In an unstable period, there is a renewed fear of another pandemic. The concern surrounding Mpox still largely depends on the level of infections in neighboring countries. Bangladesh has issued a high alert regarding Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox). This information was revealed in a press release from the Directorate General of Health Services on Saturday (August 17).
If symptoms of Mpox appear, people are urged to contact the Health Directorate’s hotlines at 16263 and 10655 as soon as possible. Professor Muniruddin Ahmed, former faculty of the Pharmacy and Physical Medicine Department at Dhaka University, provides detailed insights on this matter.
What is Mpox?
Mpox is a viral disease distinct from chickenpox or smallpox, caused by a different type of poxvirus. There are two main types of Mpox: Clade 1 and Clade 2, with further subdivisions A and B within them. Reports indicate that Clade 1 has been prevalent in Congo for a long time, while Clade 2 has spread across Europe. The mortality rate is lower with Clade 2, but Clade 1, which spread in Africa, has a higher mortality rate, being more severe with 4 out of 100 people succumbing to it.
Recently, the number of Mpox cases has been increasing, particularly in Congo, with the virus spreading to neighboring countries, Europe, and Asia, including Pakistan. Following this rise, the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency for Mpox for the second time since 2022.
How It Spreads
- Wildlife Origin: Mpox virus initially emerged from wild animals. It is now spreading from person to person, increasing the risk.
- Physical Contact: The virus spreads through close physical contact between people.
- Respiratory Droplets: There is a risk of transmission through the respiratory droplets of an infected person.
- Handling Infected Wildlife: Activities like hunting, skinning, or cooking infected wildlife can spread the virus, especially if the meat is undercooked.
- Contaminated Items: The virus can spread by using clothes, towels, bed linens, or any items used by an infected person.
- Shared Needles: Mpox can be contracted if a needle used by an infected person is shared with another.
- Mother-to-Child Transmission: Pregnant women with Mpox can pass the virus to their unborn child.
- Dry Blisters: After Mpox blisters dry out, the viral particles in the scab can cause infection if they spread to other places.
Symptoms
- Severe Pain: Individuals experience intense pain, more severe than chickenpox.
- Swollen Glands: Lymph nodes in the legs, throat, and underarms swell and become painful.
- Fever: Swelling and pain lead to a fever.
- Skin Lesions: Fluid-filled blisters or pustules appear on the skin, accompanied by itching and pain.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for Mpox, and no direct medication is available. Research is ongoing to develop a treatment, although some experimental drugs exist. Patients must be isolated and treated based on their symptoms. Pain and inflammation from blisters or pustules should be managed with pain relief medication, while patients should be provided with nutritious food and kept in a clean environment. Care for Mpox patients should mirror that of smallpox patients. If the patient’s condition worsens, they should be hospitalized for further treatment. Given the contagious nature of Mpox, utmost caution is required to prevent the virus from spreading.
Prevention
- Disclosure: Anyone infected with Mpox should inform others to prevent unnecessary contact.
- Safety Measures: Doctors or anyone in contact with the patient must wear gloves and masks, and treat the patient with maximum safety precautions.
- Avoid Contact with Infected Animals: Direct contact with infected animals should be avoided.
- Handling Blisters: Ensure that scabs from dried blisters do not spread.
- Isolation: The infected individual should stay home until fully recovered.
- Mask and Distance: The infected person must wear a mask and maintain physical distance, while covering the lesions with medically advised ointment.
