Mpox (monkeypox)

Context:
    The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that mpox (monkeypox) is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), following a sustained global decline in cases and deaths.

What it is:

• • A viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV).
  • Belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus (Poxviridae family)—which also includes variola (smallpox), cowpox, and vaccinia

Origin & History:

• • First identified in 1958 in monkeys in Denmark.
  • First human case recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
  • Natural reservoir remains unknown, though small mammals such as squirrels, rodents, and monkeys are considered likely hosts.

Reservoirs & Vectors:

• • Animal-to-human transmission: From infected rodents or primates via bites, scratches, hunting, or consumption of bushmeat.
  • Maintained in endemic regions of Central and West Africa, with occasional outbreaks globally.

Symptoms & Clinical Features:

• • Incubation period: 5–21 days.
  • Initial symptoms: Fever, headache, muscle/back pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue.
  • Rash:
  • Typically begins on the face and genitals, then spreads across the body, including palms and soles.
  • Lesions evolve from flat sores → blisters → pustules → scabs.
  • High-risk groups: Children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals (especially those with HIV).

Modes of Transmission:

• • Human-to-Human:
  • Close contact (skin-to-skin, sexual contact, respiratory droplets).
  • Sharing contaminated objects (bedding, clothing, needles).
  • Mother-to-child transmission (pregnancy or birth).

Animal-to-Human:

• • Direct exposure through bites, scratches, or handling/consumption of infected animals.

Treatment & Management:

• • No specific proven antiviral treatment currently available.
  • Supportive care is the mainstay:
  • Adequate hydration & nutrition.
  • Pain relief & skin care.
  • Prevention of secondary bacterial infections.