MPOX OUTBREAK IN CONGO

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TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a significant surge in suspected mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from January 1 to November 12, 2023.

EXPLANATION:

• A total of 12,569 suspected cases, with 581 deaths, were recorded, marking the highest annual case count in history.
• The outbreak encompassed 22 out of 26 provinces, including regions previously unaffected, such as Kinshasa, Lualaba, and South Kivu.

Key Milestones and Grim Firsts:

• Geographical Spread: The outbreak extended beyond previously endemic areas, indicating a rapid geographical expansion of mpox within the country.
• Sexually Transmitted Cases: A distressing development was the first documented instances of sexually transmitted mpox infections globally, notably observed with Clade 1 MPXV in the DRC. This unprecedented transmission mode raises new challenges in managing and understanding the disease.
• Capital City Affected: Kinshasa, the capital, reported its first mpox cases in August 2023, signaling a significant shift in the disease’s epidemiology. Clusters emerged due to travelers introducing the infection, causing local transmission in the urban setting.

Clade Differentiation and Transmission:

• Clade Classification:
  • Mpox virus (MPXV) is categorized into Clade I and Clade II (further divided into Clade IIa and Clade IIb).
  • Only Clade I MPXV has been identified in the DRC.
• Sexual Transmission of Clade I:
  • Before April 2023, no documented cases of sexual transmission involving Clade I MPXV existed globally.
  • However, the report highlighted the first-ever confirmed case of sexual transmission in March 2023, originating from a Belgian traveler in Kwango province and spreading through sexual contacts within the DRC.
  • Viral sequences showed a close genetic relationship among cases.

CLADE:

• A clade is a group of organisms that includes an ancestor and all its descendants.
• In the case of the Monkeypox virus (MPXV), it is categorized into two main clades: Clade I and Clade II, with Clade II further divided into Clade IIa and Clade IIb.
• It has been identified that only Clade I MPXV has been found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

MPOX:

• Mpox (monkeypox) is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus. Two different clades exist: clade I and clade II.
• Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
• Mpox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone who is infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals.
• Laboratory confirmation of mpox is done by testing skin lesion material by PCR.
• Mpox is treated with supportive care. Vaccines and therapeutics developed for smallpox and approved for use in some countries can be used for mpox in some circumstances.
• In 2022–2023 a global outbreak of mpox was caused by a strain known as clade IIb.
• Mpox can be prevented by avoiding physical contact with someone who has mpox. Vaccination can help prevent infection for people at risk.

Conclusion:

• The unprecedented mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, marked by a record number of cases, novel modes of transmission, and its spread to the capital city, Kinshasa, underscores the shifting landscape of the disease’s epidemiology.
• The identification of sexually transmitted cases and the challenges posed by this new mode of transmission call for a rapid and comprehensive response.
• Collaborative efforts between health authorities and international bodies are critical in understanding, containing, and managing this evolving public health crisis.

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/africa/congo-reports-biggest-mpox-outbreak-with-first-sexually-transmitted-cases-in-the-world-who-93166