New mpox variant unlikely to see Covid-19 levels of transmission - Epidemiologist: Video
The World Health Organization declared a mpox outbreak in Africa an emergency, with the Africa CDC issuing its first-ever Public Health Emergency of Continental Security.
The outbreak involves a new variant of the deadlier clade 1 strain, now detected in Sweden and Pakistan, with more cases in Europe expected.
Mpox affects young children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people, with the new strain spreading mainly through sexual contact. The virus has also spread through non-sexual contact, particularly among children.
The outbreak, which began in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has spread to other African nations and beyond.
Vaccines, which helped control the 2022 outbreak, are now being distributed in Africa, with 200,000 doses secured. However, experts believe mpox is more likely to be contained than COVID-19.
“It may well spread wider within the African continent. I think it's likely that we will see occasional sporadic cases that are occurring in other parts of the world, but I think as long as the health workforce in those countries is alert and able to recognise cases, we should be able to stop it from spreading and causing the kind of pandemic that was seen with Covid-19,” Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Jimmy Whitworth told AFP TV.
