2022–2023 mpox outbreak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 2022 mpox outbreak |
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Endemic Clade I (formerly West African clade) Both clades recorded Clade II outbreak in 2022 Suspected cases |
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| Disease | Mpox |
| Virus strain | Monkeypox virus (MPV), Clade II, 2017–2019 outbreak subclade |
| Source | Travel from Nigeria (presumed/hypothesis) |
| Location | 113 countries and territories (111 with confirmed cases, 2 with suspected cases only) |
| First outbreak | London, United Kingdom (first outside of historically-endemic African countries) |
| Date | First international outbreak: 6 May 2022
Public health emergency of international concern: 23 July 2022 – 11 May 2023 (9 months, 2 weeks and 4 days) |
| Confirmed cases | 88,026 (since January 2022) (21 June 2023) |
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Deaths
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148 (since January 2022) (21 June 2023) |
Mpox is a viral infection that manifests a week or two after exposure with fever and other non-specific symptoms, and then produces a rash with lesions that usually last for 2–4 weeks before drying up, crusting and falling off. While mpox can cause large numbers of lesions, in the current outbreak, some patients experience only a single lesion, making it more difficult to differentiate from other infections. In infections before the current outbreak, 1–3 percent of people with known infections have died (without treatment). Cases in children and immunocompromised people are more likely to be severe.
Mpox spreads through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact. The disease can spread by touching objects and fabrics that have been used by someone with mpox or through respiratory secretions. Given the unexpected and vast geographical spread of the disease, the actual number of cases is likely to be underestimated.
An outbreak of mpox, a viral disease then commonly known as "monkeypox", was confirmed in May 2022. The initial cluster of cases was found in the United Kingdom, where the first case was detected in London on 6 May 2022 in a patient with a recent travel history from Nigeria (where the disease is endemic). On 16 May, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed four new cases with no link to travel to a country where mpox is endemic. All four cases appeared to have been infected in London. From 18 May 2022 until May 2023, cases were reported from several countries and regions, predominantly in Europe and in the Americas but also in Asia, in Africa, and in Oceania. The outbreak marked the first time mpox had spread widely outside Central and West Africa.
On 23 July 2022, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). As of 18 March 2023, there had been a total of 86,516 confirmed cases in over 113 countries. In May 2023, the World Health Organization declared an end to the global health emergency declared in response to the worldwide outbreak of mpox virus.
Outbreak characteristics
Mpox is endemic to West and Central Africa. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, the United Kingdom had recorded only seven previous cases of mpox, all of which were imported cases from Africa or healthcare workers involved in their treatment. The first three such cases were in 2018, followed by a further case in 2019 and three more in 2021. Phylogenomic characterization of the first monkeypox virus outbreak genome sequences, found the "presumably slow-evolving" DNA virus has evolved roughly 6–12-fold more mutations than one would expect and 15 SNP mutations since the beginning of the outbreak.
The mpox incubation period is estimated to be 8.5 days on average and up to 21 days.
An analysis of studies by a journalist indicates that "about 10-to-15% of cases have been hospitalized, mostly for pain and bacterial infections that can occur as a result of mpox lesions".
Vaccination
Smallpox vaccines containing vaccinia such as Imvanex (Jynneos) and ACAM2000 can provide around 85% effectiveness against mpox. This protection level is calculated from studies using smallpox vaccines tested in late 1980 in Africa.
On 25 May, disease experts from the NICD in South Africa said they saw no need for mass vaccination, because they believe cases will not explode as they did in the COVID-19 pandemic.
In reaction to the current outbreak of mpox, a number of countries have stated they are buying vaccines and/or releasing vaccines from national stockpiles for use in the outbreak. In May 2022, the US, Spain, Germany and the UK all announced purchases of smallpox vaccine.
On 24 May, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Deputy Director Jennifer McQuiston confirmed the United States is releasing some of their Jynneos vaccine supply from their Strategic National Stockpile for people who are "high-risk".
Another mpox vaccine, the modern LC16m8 vaccine was developed in Japan as a national asset, and the manufacturer said it could not assist other countries.
See also
In Spanish: Brote de viruela símica de 2022-presente para niños
