Both clades of Mpox is possibly mutating but no one is willing to divulge the truth

Mpox News: South Africa’s Mpox Outbreak - More Than Meets the Eye
South Africa is currently grappling with an outbreak of Mpox, also known as Monkeypox, which despite being from the milder clade II strains, has presented alarming statistics. Between May 8th and July 2nd, the country reported 20 infections, predominantly among gay men, resulting in three deaths and 18 hospitalizations. The situation has become more perplexing with recent symptomatic cases testing negative for the virus. Local doctors believe that there are possibly more cases that have yet to be identified and even unexplained deaths at certain hospitals in the rural areas have not been tested for Mpox despite some of the corpses bearing the tell-tale rashes.


Both clades of Mpox is possibly mutating but no one is willing to tell the truth
Image - AI Generated by TMN
 
Adding to the complexity, a six-year-old girl has now tested positive for Mpox, raising questions about the virus’s spread and mutation.
https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/mec-matome-chiloane-first-monkeypox-case-reported-gauteng-public-school-18#

Some are believing the the virus can now be possibly airborne!

First Case in a Gauteng Public School
On July 16, 2024, Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation, Mr. Matome Chiloane, announced the first Monkeypox case at a Gauteng public school. A Grade 1 girl from Iketleng Primary School in Hammanskraal was diagnosed after her parents reported her symptoms to the school. She had visited relatives in Boplaas over the weekend, where some were displaying symptoms of Monkeypox. Upon her return, she developed itchy sores and was taken to the hospital on July 15th, where she was diagnosed with Mpox Clade II strain.
 
The affected learner is currently receiving medical care and is in isolation along with her family. The Gauteng Department of Education, in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Health, has initiated all necessary protocols to contain the situation and prevent further spread. Health education and screening are being conducted at the school through the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP).
 
South Africa’s Rising Concerns
The current outbreak in South Africa stands in stark contrast to the situation two years ago when the country reported only five cases and no deaths. Scientists initially feared that the new cases could be caused by the deadlier strain circulating in DRC. However, genomic sequencing revealed that the cases were of the same strain behind the 2022 outbreak. Despite this, the rise in cases is concerning, with 23 laboratory-confirmed cases as of July 10. Experts worry that many more cases remain undiagnosed and untreated.
 
There has been not much ng>Mpox News coverages in mainstream media globally and many are not even aware than Mpox infections are still occurring in many geolocations across the world nor are people aware of the current Mpox situations unfolding in South Africa and in Democratic Republic of Congo.
 
Mpox: A Growing Global Threat
Mpox, a viral infection typically primarily spread through direct contact with an infected person, animal, or contaminated materials, has been making headlines again. Two outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa are raising concerns about the virus's global spread and the emergence of a deadlier strain than the one that circled the globe in 2022, which sickened nearly 100,000 people and resulted in 203 deaths.
 
In May 2024 alone, 26 countries reported a total of 646 new cases involving the Clade II strains and 15 deaths, with Africa bearing the brunt of these numbers.
 
Democratic Republic of Congo: A Deadly Outbreak
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is witnessing a severe outbreak of Mpox, caused by the deadlier clade I variant. In 2023, DRC reported 14,434 suspected cases and 728 deaths.
 
Alarmingly, the pace has increased in 2024, with over 11,000 cases and 445 deaths already reported. This variant has a mortality rate of about 6%, significantly higher than the 0.2% death rate for the 2022 strain. Most of the deaths are among children.
 
Stigma and Healthcare Challenges
The virus’s quiet spread may be attributed to the affected population. The majority of the cases in South Africa involve men who have sex with men, a group that faces heavy stigma and may not seek healthcare unless severely ill.
 
Additionally, several of the men with severe cases were HIV-positive, which can make Mpox infections more severe. Similar challenges are present in DRC, where sex workers, heavily stigmatized, are difficult to reach.
 
However, in many of the new cases, sexual contact or even contact with the infected has been ruled out and in certain circumstances, possible infection due to exposure to contaminated items or surfaces has been ruled out, raisings worries if the virus has now mutated to become airborne.
 
Waiting for Vaccines
Efforts to control Mpox are hindered by a lack of vaccines. Wealthy nations quickly stockpiled Mpox vaccines in 2022, but few reached the Global South. DRC approved the two vaccines used for Mpox at the end of June, while South Africa began the process to approve and order vaccines in May. The U.S. has committed to providing enough doses to vaccinate 25,000 people in DRC, but none have arrived yet. Japan has also pledged vaccines, but larger deployment is still pending.
 
Communication and Community Engagement
Beyond vaccines, fundamental public health work - communicating risks, offering testing and treatment, doing contact tracing, and mobilizing the community -could significantly help control the virus’s spread. Effective communication, especially with at-risk populations like men who have sex with men and sex workers, is crucial. Established HIV programs in South Africa, which have experience in sensitive communication with key population groups, could play a pivotal role.
 
The Need for Global Attention
In 2022, the world paid close attention to Mpox when it hit, but interest waned as cases were controlled in wealthier regions. The virus, however, did not disappear. Continued global attention, investment, and support are essential to control the virus and prevent it from causing further havoc. The interconnectedness of our world means that the risk remains not only in the Global South but also for the entire global community.
 
As Mpox continues to spread and possibly mutate, the need for vigilant surveillance, equitable vaccine distribution, and robust public health measures cannot be overstated. The current outbreaks in South Africa and DRC are stark reminders that the fight against this virus is far from over.
 
For the latest Mpox News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
 
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/mpox-may-present-without-typical-skin-lesions-warns-doctor
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-mutated-clade-1b-strain-of-mpox-that-is-highly-lethal-causes-global-panic-as-cases-surge-in-congo