BackgroundThe Mpox virus has caused two major outbreaks in the last three years. The first Mpox outbreak was in 2022,and it spread mainly in Europe and the Americas. The second and current outbreak of Mpox, attributed toClade 1B, was declared a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024 and has spread tomore than 120 countries globally.Rapid Response Question: What is the current epidemiological profile of the Clade 1b Mpoxvariant?Updates:ï As of September, the cases had risen to 2,500 daily recorded.ï Mpox has caused 581 deaths out of over 12,500 cases in DRC since February 2023.ï Uganda has reported cases in at least ten districts, including KampalaFindings:The observation period of potential cases is from:ï Estimates of the incubation period, between infection and symptom onset, of the Mpoxvirus ranges from 5 to 21 days.ï Estimates of the invasion period, between exposure and infection, of the Mpox virusrange from 0 to 5 days.â The Mpox virus often spreads through contact among household contacts. However, the virus couldspread faster in health facilities with a basic reproduction number of 1.3 compared to 1.2 amonghousehold contacts.â Confirmatory diagnosis is done using a PCR with specimens from skin lesions. However, swabs from themouth, nose, anus and rectum are possible.â Common risk factors for the Clade IB Mpox virus include Children <= 15 years (odds ratio 1), Peopleliving with HIV and AIDS (odds ratio 4), and household contacts (odds ratio of 2.5). However, a historyof immunization against smallpox is likely to protect an individual from infection.â Common measures to interrupt transmission include quarantine/ isolation, hand hygiene practices, anduse of personal protective equipment. However, there is no adequate information on how these strategieswork during an Mpox outbreak.â Vaccines are available and effective when administered in two doses.â Brincidofovir, an antiviral agent, is a promising pre-exposure prophylaxis treatment. When taken beforeexposure, individuals given the drug had better survival rates (they were not infected).â Antiviral agents, such as tecovirimat and cidofovir, are effective for treating infected individuals.â It is important to align Mpox interventions within the One Health Approach to ultimately achieveminimal viral transmission.Conclusion:The Mpox pandemic has currently spread to at least 120 countries. While few deaths linked to this outbreakhave occurred, the Mpox virus could spread more in hospital outbreaks than household outbreaks,underscoring the need to enhance infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings. Childrenunder 15 and individuals living with HIV are particularly susceptible to severe Mpox infection due to theircompromised immune systems. As such, preventative and control interventions should target these groupsdue to their high transmission potential. Vaccines such as MVA-BN1 are effective when administered in twodoses, and antiviral agents are effective in managing symptoms and reducing hospital stays. Brincidofovirshows potential as a pre-exposure prophylactic. Furthermore, raising awareness of One Health andintegrating it into Mpox intervention strategies could further reduce the risk of viral transmissionacross humans and animals.
