About Mpox - from the Centre for Health Crises
In the spring and summer of 2024, the spread of a more contagious variant of the infectious disease mpox has attracted considerable attention. The current outbreak originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). On 14 August, the World Health Organisation WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). Through its experts, the Centre for Health Crises, is monitoring the development of the disease and continues to inform and provide support.
The Centre for Health Crises has made its expertise available
The Centre for Health Crises’ experts have a good understanding of Mpox, along with an understanding of the conditions in the DRC and the neighbouring countries and what is needed to stop the outbreak. Our staff and their expertise are available for questions and advice.
In connection with the recent attention to the ongoing outbreak of Mpox, our expert coordinator in infectious diseases and vaccine preparedness, Helena Hervius Askling, and our director, Johan von Schreeb, have featured in Swedish media to answer questions on several occasions:
- Infektionsläkaren om mpox: Orsakar störst problem i Kongo
- Chatt med infektionsexpert om mpox
- Läkare utan gränser i Kongo-Kinshasa: Omöjligt att stoppa spridning i så trånga flyktingläger
The outbreak highlights the importance of health and vaccine equity
Meanwhile, we would like to draw attention to the fact that the current outbreak is not just an isolated event, but part of a larger and more complex context of communicable disease outbreaks. Factors such as climate and environmental change, poverty, and displacement increase the risk of exposure and aggravate outbreaks. We know from the experience of Ebola outbreaks and the COVID-19 pandemic that health and vaccine equity is necessary to strengthen public health and health systems in low-income countries, and thereby enable long-term improvements also at the global level.
In addition, we think it is worth asking ourselves why the ongoing outbreak only attracted more widespread attention, not least in the media, after the WHO declared it a health emergency of international concern and when a case was diagnosed outside Africa (in Sweden). In the same vein, we ought to ask what a lack of focus on health crises occurring in low-income countries risks leading to in the long run.
Helena Hervius Askling and Johan von Schreeb, along with state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén, have summarised their views on this in a recently published editorial in the journal New Microbes and New Infections.
What is Mpox?
Mpox is caused by a virus, present in wild rodents and monkeys i central Africa since long. It is mainly transmitted between humans through close physical contact (including sexual contact) with an infected person. Transmission can occur through objects that an sick person has come into contact with, such as bed linen and towels. The disease is also transmitted between close contact with infected animals or their meat. Mpox was previously called monkey pox.
Common symptoms of mpox include blisters or sores on the arms, legs, hands and feet, as well as on the face and around the genitals. In addition and preceeding the blisters and sores fever, headache, muscle aches and sore throat are common symptoms.
Mpox is diagnosed by testing and analysis in a laboratory. Most people with mpox recover within 2-4 weeks. If the disease is severe, there are medicines to treat the infection. There are also vaccines, which are given to people who are exposed or are at risk of exposure to the disease.
If you want to know more about mpox, we recommend that you visit the of the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the World Health Organisation’s websites. If you want to know about treatment, infection prevention, vaccination, etc. in Sweden, we recommend that you visit 1177.
Ongoing outbreak
The outbreak of mpox that is currently attracting a lot of attention, not least in the media, began in the DRC in December 2022. Since then, cases have also been reported, mainly in neighbouring countries, and as of 15 August 2024, one case has been confirmed in Sweden. According to the Public Health Agency of Sweden, this case was infected during a stay in an area in Africa where the outbreak is ongoing.
On 13 August, the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) . This was done because the WHO sees a need to coordinate efforts and recommendations. The health authorities in the affected countries, as well as several aid organisations and other relevant actors, are now working to treat mpox on the ground and reduce its spread.