While WHO admits Mpox can be spread by droplets, past studies show it can be airborne!

Medical News: Recent findings have further complicated our understanding of Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), a viral disease that sparked a global health scare in 2022 and again in August 2024 when the WHO once again declared it a global health emergency. Initially believed to be transmitted primarily through direct contact, especially during intimate encounters, Mpox has shown potential for broader modes of transmission.


While WHO admits Mpox can be spread by droplets, past studies show it can be airborne!

The WHO recently admitted that Mpox could also be spread by droplets.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/who-admits-that-mpox-virus-can-be-spread-through-droplets
 
It should be noted that the WHO is infamous for always either delaying the release of vital information or disseminating misinformation as they have done in numerous incidences in the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.’
 
Many experts are claiming that more urgent studies are needed as not only past case studies and research has shown that Mpox could be airborne but emerging new cases being reported in various geolocations involving the clade 2b infections are showing that the Mpox is indeed possibly airborne.
 
In this Medical News report, we delve into one past research that suggests Mpox may also be airborne, posing new challenges for public health surveillance and safety.
 
Understanding Mpox Transmission
The 2022 Mpox outbreak, driven largely by human-to-human contact, was first linked to sexual transmission. This understanding led to targeted public health measures focusing on direct contact prevention. However, concerns about the potential for respiratory transmission emerged as cases increased globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged the possibility of droplet transmission, where the virus could spread through respiratory droplets expelled during coughing or sneezing.
 
The idea that Mpox could be airborne was not widely accepted initially. However, past studies have presented compelling evidence that challenges this assumption, revealing that the Mpox virus (MPXV) may linger in the air longer than previously thought.
 
The Study That Sparked New Concerns
A pivotal study published in the peer reviewed journal: Archives of Virology explored the possibility of airborne transmission of Mpox. This research was conducted by a team of scientists from several institutions, including the Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology at KU Leuven, the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, and the National Reference Centre of Respiratory Pathogens at University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium. The study's findings were based on air samples collected in a sexual health clinic during the visits of Mpox-infected patients.
 
The researchers used a high-flow air sampler to capture ambient air samples duri ng these visits. To ensure accuracy, they tested the samples using two distinct PCR assays, targeting the MPXV-TNF receptor gene. Their results were striking: all air samples collected near infected patients tested positive for the Mpox virus, suggesting that the virus was present in the air around these individuals.
 
The researchers emphasizes that while these findings do not confirm that Mpox is primarily spread through the air, they do highlight the virus's ability to become airborne under certain conditions. This could have significant implications for public health measures, particularly in high-risk environments such as clinics and hospitals.
 
Key Findings and Implications
The study conducted by Joren Raymenants and Liesbeth Van Gestel, along with their colleagues, revealed several critical insights:
 
-Detection in Ambient Air: The Mpox virus was detected in ambient air samples collected in the vicinity of infected patients during their clinic visits. This detection was consistent across multiple samples, indicating that the virus could indeed become airborne, at least temporarily.
 
-High Sensitivity and Specificity: The study employed highly sensitive air sampling techniques and PCR assays, which were crucial in detecting the virus in the air. The researchers noted that while high sensitivity is vital for surveillance, high specificity is equally important for diagnostic purposes. This balance is challenging to achieve, especially in environments where contamination is a concern.
 
-Genomic Surveillance Potential: The study also explored the potential of using air sampling for genomic surveillance of Mpox. By sequencing the virus's genome from air samples and comparing it to clinical samples, the researchers could track specific strains of the virus. This approach could be invaluable in monitoring the spread of the virus and detecting new mutations.
 
Challenges with Airborne Transmission
Despite these findings, the researchers cautioned that the presence of the virus in the air does not necessarily mean it can effectively transmit through the air. They emphasized that more research is needed to determine the conditions under which Mpox might spread via airborne particles and whether this mode of transmission poses a significant risk to the general population.
 
Their study findings can be found here:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00705-023-05837-z
 
Another study conducted by Spanish researchers also found Mpox virus in aerosols.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(22)00291-9/fulltext
 
A study involving a hospital in UK found Mpox in the air samples of the rooms of hospitalized Mpox patients.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(22)00257-9/fulltext
 
A French study also found Mpox in air samples taken from an outpatient clinic.
https://www.journalofinfection.com/article/S0163-4453(22)00750-2/fulltext
 
An American lab study found that the Mpox virus could remain stable and even self-replicate in aerosols for up to 90 hours!
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166093412003679
 
There are more than 13 peer reviewed studies and cases studies that indicate Mpox virus can be airborne and that is the communications strategy that responsible health agencies and experts should be communicating to the general population and the need for masking and clean air strategies. Although claims are being made that the Mpox Clade 2b is milder and is only occurring among the gay community though sexual activities, this strain is now rapidly spreadly in many geolocations around the world with children even getting infected now. Emerging data shows that even this so called ‘mild’ Mpox strain can cause serious long term health issues. We should not just focus on the Clade 1b strains that is currently wreaking havoc in Africa but rather be worried about all Mpox strains.
 
The findings from the KU Leuven and Antwerp research teams suggest that more attention needs to be paid to airborne transmission, especially in settings where vulnerable populations are present.
 
Public health measures, such as improved ventilation in clinics and hospitals, could help mitigate the risk of airborne transmission. The use of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and other air purification technologies may also play a role in reducing the presence of the virus in the air.
 
Conclusion: A Need for Vigilance
The Belgium study and the rest of the past studies adds a new layer of complexity to our understanding of Mpox transmission and highlights the need for continued vigilance. As the virus continues to evolve, public health authorities must remain flexible in their strategies to prevent its spread and communicate the right and credible information.
 
For the latest Mpox News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
 
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/italian-study-finds-that-the-immune-system-relies-more-heavily-on-cd4-t-cells-in-the-fight-against-mpox