EU BODY RAISES MPOX RISK ALERT TO ‘MODERATE’; PAKISTAN REPORTS THREE CASES

Why in the news?

With the discovery of a new strain in Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) upgraded the risk level of monkeypox (mpox) to “moderate” and Pakistan reported three cases.

EU BODY RAISES MPOX RISK ALERT TO ‘MODERATE’; PAKISTAN REPORTS THREE CASES - UPSC

Key Details

  • Overview of Mpox: The monkeypox virus, which is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus, is the cause of the zoonotic disease known as mpox. Fever, flu-like symptoms, and a distinctive rash are the disease’s hallmarks. In immunocompromised people, it can be severe, but it normally goes away on its own.
  • European Center for the Prevention and Control of Diseases (ECDC): The task of bolstering Europe’s resistance against infectious illnesses falls to the ECDC, an EU organization with its headquarters located in Stockholm, Sweden. The organization coordinates responses to hazards to public health and offers scientific advice.
  • Worldwide Health Concerns: In 2022, following an epidemic in several countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the disease is endemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated mpox a worldwide public health emergency.
  • Pakistan’s Situation: After returning from Africa, three instances of mpox were detected in Pakistan. To stop the spread, the government has tightened security at airports and other points of entry.

About Monkeypox

  • What it is? This is a virus that mostly infected humans through zoonotic spillovers, with rodents and monkeys acting as possible reservoirs.
  • In 1970, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported the first occurrence involving humans.
  • Transmission: Human-to-human transmission occurs when infected bodily fluids or lesions are in close proximity to one another.
  • Incubation period: Monkeypox typically takes 6 to 13 days to incubate, though it can take anywhere from 5 to 21 days. Incubation is the time between infection exposure and the onset of symptoms.
  • Symptoms: Skin rash or mucosal lesions, fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes are common signs of mpox, which can cause a number of medical problems.
  • A vaccination to prevent monkeypox infection does not now exist.