Young People & Sickness/Cancer | Graphic by Rose Taylor | The Wright State Guardian
The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a public health emergency after cases in Africa, Asia and Europe increased. Here is what you need to know.
Mpox: what is it, what are the symptoms and where is it?
On Aug. 14, the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency as a result of the upsurge in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and emergence of cases in new countries.
Over 14,000 cases of mpox have been documented in 2024 alone, with a reported death count of 457, a number that is growing higher each day.
“It is a viral infection which can spread between people, mainly through close contact, and occasionally from the environment to people via things and surfaces that have been touched by a person with mpox,” WHO website reads.
There are two different types of mpox, characterized as clade 1 and clade 2. Clade 1 is more severe, with more documented deaths as opposed to clade 2, and is most likely the cause of the recent outbreak.
Mpox’s clade 1 is spread through skin-to-skin contact, and most commonly is sexually transmitted.
The most notable symptom of mpox is the rash those infected experience. WHO lists additional symptoms associated with mpox including fever, headache, muscle aches, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
With proper treatment, the virus typically lasts a few weeks and symptoms will disappear. The severity of the virus is dependent on various factors, including if those infected have a compromised immune system and access to healthcare.
Receiving care for mpox is essential to treating the virus and ensuring a speedy recovery, so as to avoid worsening of symptoms. Left untreated, mpox rash will become more widespread and severe and may lead to health complications, and, in extreme cases, death.
Treatment of mpox consists of a vaccination, but no antiviral treatments currently exist for mpox. Managing symptoms and preventing future health complications are a priority in ridding the virus.
Much concern for the virus has come from the number of cases that arose in a short period of time, and the emergence of mpox in African countries, such as the Republic of Congo, Kenya and Ghana.
Since the resurgence, cases in Asia and Europe have been reported. The origin of some cases remains unknown, while others are linked to traveling in countries that harbor the virus.
Mpox is not currently documented in the US, but the deadly virus remains an international concern.
History of the virus
The virus originated from Africa, with the first notably dangerous outbreak documented in 2022. The 2022 outbreak was the first time the virus was declared a public health emergency. The upsurge in Aug. 2024 is the second time the virus has been declared an emergency.
Mpox initially was reported in humans in the DRC in 1970. Reported cases continued to steadily increase since the emergence in 1970, eventually spreading to neighboring countries and continents.
Clade 1 and 2 transmitted throughout Africa several decades before becoming a public health emergency in 2022. The rapid mpox spread in 2022 was cause for concern as the virus traveled to Europe through close contact, with more severe cases reported.
Greene County & campus safety
Preparedness and taking action to stay informed on the status of mpox is of the utmost importance to personal safety. As the virus continues to spread, Greene County Public Health (GCPH) and Wright State University are ensuring safety of the community and students.
The communicable disease team at GCPH services the community through preventing and controlling communicable diseases, while promoting health and wellness and protecting the environment for residents.
As the WHO claims the virus to be an international concern, the communicable disease team reassured residents that risk of mpox in the U.S. is low.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “The risk of mpox coming into the United States is low. CDC has made this assessment due to the limited number of travelers and no direct commercial flights from DRC or its neighboring countries to the United States.”
The team added that close or intimate contact is necessary for the virus to spread, which is unlikely to occur when traveling.
In the extreme case that mpox were to spread to the US, GCPH plans to recommend or provide vaccinations to at-risk groups, educate residents and promote prevention practices and share isolation messaging and CDC and Ohio Department of Health protocols.
Wright State University has taken steps to educate and reassure students, staff and faculty on personal health and safety since the mpox upsurge. The university would follow guidelines provided by the CDC, as well as local and state public health guidelines.
WSU has made sure to communicate up-to-date information on the virus to keep students educated on the matter through various outlets accessible to the campus community.
“Students should become familiar with the university’s safety protocols, visit our Emergency Preparedness webpage, sign up for Wright State Alert”, said Bob Mihalek, WSU’s Interim Director of Communications.
The university has set up a web page to educate students on the virus.
“If you have been exposed, wear gloves and a mask when you are near others and avoid close contact with anyone, including sex or other intimate contact until you have been checked out by a healthcare provider,” the website reads.
Mihalek stated that WSU is capable and prepared to handle any outbreaks and keep the community safe.
The possibility of mpox in the US remains unlikely currently, but WSU and the surrounding community has made it their mission to prioritize health and safety.
