Mpox in 2024
Julie Holt
8/15/20243 min read
Since the beginning of 2022, Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) has re-emerged as a significant global health concern. Before the spring of 2022, cases in the Global North were usually associated with travel to or from West or Central Africa and were few and far between. However, cases have now been reported across all six WHO regions, marking a notable resurgence. As of June 30, 2024, the WHO has reported 99,176 laboratory-confirmed cases and 535 probable cases worldwide, including 208 deaths. With mpox back in the news, this month’s post will examine the current state of the virus and the risks it poses, particularly in the Global West.
A more severe strain, Clade 1 is currently circulating on the African continent, disproportionately affecting children, who account for 85% of deaths from this strain.
There are two types of mpox virus: clade I and clade II.
Clade I causes more severe illness and deaths. Clade I is endemic to Central Africa and the cause of the current concern raised by the WHO.
Clade II caused the global outbreak that began in 2022. Infections from clade II mpox are less severe. More than 99.9% of people survive.
The WHO’s recent risk assessment presents a varied picture: the general population in countries not previously affected by mpox, such as those in the Global North and Europe, faces a low risk, while those in historically affected areas, particularly in Africa, face a moderate to high risk. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the situation is especially dire, with cases also reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—all countries that have never reported cases of mpox before. This prompted WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to declare the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Dr. Tedros has called for an urgent and coordinated international response, including enhanced surveillance to monitor and rapidly identify new cases, vaccination campaigns targeting at-risk populations, public awareness efforts on protective measures, and support for research and development of new vaccines and treatments. As we learned with COVID-19, airline travel makes viruses more mobile than ever before.
The WHO’s collaboration with governments, health agencies, and international organizations is critical to ensuring that resources are effectively mobilized to curb the outbreak. The urgency is clear: as mpox continues to spread, particularly in Africa, a coordinated global effort is essential to protect vulnerable populations and prevent further escalation.
Is This Similar to the Outbreak in 2022?
The CDC’s most recent risk assessment, completed in July, determined that the risk to gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) who have more than one sexual partner, as well as people who have sex with GBMSM regardless of gender, is low to moderate. This assessment is currently under review and will be updated soon in light of the latest transmission trends from the Clade I outbreak. One case has been identified in Sweden in an adult who recently returned from an African country where mpox transmission is ongoing, so close attention is needed to track infections that may be imported from Africa due to travel.
While the DRC outbreak has resulted in more than 7,000 confirmed or suspected cases so far in 2024, similar levels of transmission are unlikely in the United States and Canada. This is due to several factors, including smaller average household sizes, improved access to sanitation and healthcare, and the absence of zoonotic reservoirs of the disease in the Global West. At present, this outbreak does not appear to be shaping up like the one in 2022. However, continued vigilant surveillance, especially among those with travel to and from impacted regions in Africa, will be key.
It is important to note that most of the North American population has no immunity to mpox:
Acquired immunity from previous mpox infection is extremely low among the general population
(note GBMSM, who were disproportionately affected by mpox during the 2022 outbreak are considered separate from this as they were high risk and encouraged to be vaccinated).Vaccine-induced immunity from the 2022 mpox vaccination campaign is also low in the general population, as the vaccination was targeted at those at highest risk, including GBMSM and their partners.
Is a vaccine needed?
If you received two doses of the mpox vaccine, no booster is recommended at this time. However, if you were not vaccinated and believe you may be at higher risk please consult your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated, this is especially important if you have upcoming travel to impacted areas within the African continent.
The evolving global situation of mpox will be one to monitor closely in the upcoming weeks.
Contact
info@hghconsult.com
Subscribe to our newsletter
Holt & Associates Global Health Consulting Inc.
See our Privacy Policy for more information