BD at moderate risk of Mpox outbreak: Virologists

As the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global public health emergency over Mpox, virologists have said that Bangladesh is under a moderate threat of the viral infection.
The viral infection which can spread between people, mainly through close contact, and occasionally from the environment to people via things and surfaces touched by a person infected with mpox, according to WHO.
Close contact includes skin-to-skin (such as touching or sex) and mouth-to-mouth, or mouth-to-skin contact (such as kissing), and can also include being face-to-face with someone who has mpox (such as talking or breathing close to one another, which can generate infectious respiratory particles). It can also be transmitted from infected animals to people.
Mpox has two variants--Clade 1 and Clade 2. Clade 1 viruses caused long-standing mpox outbreaks in Congo, and Clade 2 viruses spread to Europe. Clade 2 viruses have a lower mortality rate.
The WHO has declared monkeypox a public health emergency for the second time since 2022 due to rising infection levels.
Common symptoms of mpox include a rash which may last 2-4 weeks. This may start with, or be followed by, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen glands (lymph nodes).
In most cases, the symptoms of mpox go away on their own within a few weeks with supportive care, such as medication for pain or fever. According to available data, between 0.1 per cent and 10 per cent of people with mpox have died, said WHO.
It is also possible for the virus to persist for some time on clothing, bedding, towels, objects, electronics and surfaces that have been touched by a person with mpox.
The virus can also spread during pregnancy to the fetus, during or after birth through skin-to-skin contact, or from a parent with mpox to an infant or child during close contact.
Threat of Mpox in Bangladesh: screening suggested
Public health specialist and virologist Dr Mushtaq Hussain has told the FE that Bangladesh is under a moderate threat of Mpox outbreak.
Bangladesh remains under the threat because India (earlier) and Pakistan and the Philippines reported cases of Mpox. Except India, Bangladesh doesn't have a land border with any other country but has close business relations and air communication. "Therefore, Bangladesh has a risk of Mpox," he added.
Mpox has been reported in countries and regions where earlier there was no report of pox before, he added.
Now, it is high time to work on developing vaccines and inoculate health staffers on a priority basis as they will have been in the forefront in caregiving in hospitals, he underlined.
"If a doctor or anyone else comes in contact with a patient, they must wear gloves and masks and treat and serve the patient with as much protection as possible," he suggested.

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