What’s Driving the Rise of the Mpox Virus? Key Causes Explained

Mpox is a short term of monkey pox . The name is coined from monkey. It was first identified in 1958 in a group of monkeys in Congo during research by growing colonies of monkeys. It is first identified in that time later in 1970s human also affected by it. We thought that it is transmitted from monkey to human but actually it is originated from small mammals in Africa like rats and mice from there it spread to monkeys . Later people began to call it monkey pox because it seen in monkeys but it is native to small mammals in middle part of the Africa is highly endemic for mpox.

There are 2 types of variant,

1. Mpox clade-1

2. Mpox clade-2

Clade 1 is much more severe than clade 2 and spreads rapidly now the clade 2 is spreading.

In Africa more than 14000 cases have been identified and more than 500 peoples were died in 2024. This was started in 1970s but now only We noticing more and more.

RISK FACTORS

1. SEXUAL CONTACT:- 

It is mostly occurred by the men who had sex with men, and vice versa . it's confirmed by identified mpox virus in rectal lesions ,feces , saliva and other areas and it causes a severe infection in a short incubation period . Some spaces including backrooms, sexual clubs provide a place for transmitting a mpox virus.

2. RAISING PET ANIMALS:-

Nowadays raising pet animals is common in every household. transmission of mpox virus is mostly common from infected animals to human by directly contact such as  respiratory secretions, rashes, saliva from the pets , body fluids , scabs and the person who closely contacted with the pets like hugging, cuddling, kissing and sharing sleeping areas , sharing food these are the major reasons by raising pet mammals.

3. HEALTH CARE WORKERS:-

Health care workers like doctors , dentists, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics , administrators , laboratory staffs play a great role in health care of humans and take aware in spreading of diseases so the special patient care is associated with health care workers thereby the chances of spreading mpox virus by health care workers to their family members and societies are slightly high but they are so protected.

4. RISK IN ENVIRONMENT CONTACT:-

The recent studies in Europe ( Especially UK and Spain) found mpox virus DNA in aerosols it contains very much high concentration of mpox DNA virus and the shocking one is its identified in the person who wears a FFP2 mask . They reported that 94% of mpox virus DNA in exhaled containing droplets mask.

Nowadays no one care about the environmental pollutants. Most of the air pollution is high . Mpox virus live in aerosols for about 90h is stable in environment so aware of it and take care of the society.

5. RISK BY TRAVELLERS:-

Travellers like wildlife professionals and veterinarians   be in risk because they work with infected animals and they should care about the animals the most . For their professional studies, job work they migrated from one country to country or state to state with their infection without knowing the symptoms they are the reason for spreading the virus and also some migrants can cause the effect.

SYMPTOMS 

First signs of mpox:

1. Chills

2. Exhaustion

3. Fever

4. Muscle aches , body aches

5. Back pain 

Other symptoms :

Low energy, swollen glands, rashes like blisters or sores and it affect heart , lungs , brain and cause eye problems.

Maximum the symptoms are seen in male genital.

PREVENTION :

1. VACCINATION 

   *JYNNEOS

   *ACAM2000

These are the vaccine available for Mpox which reduce the symptoms of Mpox and prevent from getting Mpox virus.There will be redness and itching were they were injected.

SIDE-EFFECTS OF VACCINE 

    *Tiredness

    *Headache 

    *Muscle pain

The “JYNNEOS” Mpox vaccine is protection against clade 1 and clade 2 Mpox virus

   Clade 1 : which is more severe and spread fastly.. which we currently facing it.

   Clade 2 : not more severe cause 

In 2022,they had provided two dose of vaccine most of the people had done with 1st dose.Those who doesn't done with 2nd dose visit the page “VACCINE FINDER.ORG NYC.GOV” .

2. ANIMAL TRANSMISSION :-

Avoid contact with infected animals mainly from rats and mice 

Avoid contact with sick and dead animal.

Ensure that all animal products are thoroughly cooked well 

3. CLOSE CONTACT:-

 Avoid the close contact with your favourite one.

 Avoid intimate contact if they have unexplained rash or sores or feel sick untill they contact health care provider.

Mainly healthworkers and caregivers should avoid close contact with infected individuals by wearing protective equipments such as gloves, mask etc..