A global health emergency has been declared over the Mpox virus, also known as monkeypox, with health experts issuing a stark warning.
The virus has already claimed at least 450 lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is spreading across central and east Africa. The outbreak has already been detected in at least 13 countries.
The disease is transmitted through close physical contact, including sexual contact, kissing, cuddling or holding hands.
The World Health Organisation’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced on Wednesday that the outbreak was being treated as a global emergency, describing its spread as “very worrying”.
He emphasised the need for a coordinated international response to halt the outbreak and save lives during a press conference.
Mpox, or monkeypox, is a virus that spreads through physical contact and bears similarities to the deadly smallpox, albeit less severe. Symptoms include high temperature, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen glands, exhaustion, joint pain and a rash.
In 2022, an outbreak of monkeypox saw the UK reporting some of the highest case numbers in Europe, predominantly among men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with other men.
However, the numbers have since decreased, with only 16 cases reported in England this year.
As for immunisation against Mpox, one vaccine is currently licensed in the UK. Scientists are now hopeful of offering another option in the form of an mRNA jab for both Mpox and smallpox.
Volunteers are being randomly chosen to receive one of three different dosage levels of the vaccine or a placebo in a trial led by the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, with recruitment taking place across various UK sites.
