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 sickness caused by a virus. About one to two weeks after someone gets the virus, they might get a fever. They can also have other general symptoms. After this, a rash appears. This rash has bumps that usually last for 2 to 4 weeks. The bumps then dry up, form a crust, and fall off.
Sometimes, people with mpox can have many bumps. But in the 2022 outbreak, some people only had one bump. This made it harder to tell mpox apart from other infections. Before this outbreak, about 1 to 3 out of every 100 people with mpox died if they did not get treatment. Children and people with weak immune systems are more likely to get very sick.
Mpox spreads through close, personal contact. This often means skin-to-skin contact. The disease can also spread if someone touches objects or fabrics used by an infected person. It can also spread through tiny drops from breathing. Because the disease spread so widely and unexpectedly, the actual number of cases might be higher than reported.
An outbreak of mpox, a viral disease, was confirmed in May 2022. At first, this disease was often called "monkeypox." The first group of cases was found in the United Kingdom. The very first case was found in London on May 6, 2022. This person had recently traveled from Nigeria, where mpox is common.
On May 16, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported four new cases. These people had not traveled to a country where mpox is common. It seemed they had all caught the virus in London. From May 2022 to May 2023, cases were reported in many countries. Most were in Europe and the Americas. Cases also appeared in Asia, Africa, and Oceania. This outbreak was the first time mpox had spread widely outside Central and West Africa.
On July 23, 2022, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the outbreak was a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). By March 18, 2023, there were 86,516 confirmed cases. These cases were found in over 113 countries. In May 2023, the WHO announced that the global health emergency for mpox was over.
How the Outbreak Started
Mpox is usually found in West and Central Africa. Before the 2022 outbreak, the United Kingdom had only seven mpox cases. All of these cases came from people who traveled from Africa. Some were also healthcare workers who treated them. The first three cases were in 2018. One more case was in 2019, and three more in 2021.
Scientists studied the virus from the outbreak. They found that the virus had changed more than expected. It had about 6 to 12 times more changes than a virus like it usually would. It also had 15 small changes in its genetic code since the outbreak began.
The time it takes for mpox symptoms to appear after exposure is called the incubation period. On average, this is about 8.5 days. It can be up to 21 days.
Studies show that about 10 to 15 out of every 100 mpox patients needed to go to the hospital. Most of them went because of pain or bacterial infections. These infections can happen when the mpox bumps get infected.
Vaccines and Protection
Vaccines used for smallpox can also help protect against mpox. These vaccines, like Imvanex (Jynneos) and ACAM2000, can be about 85% effective. This protection level comes from studies of smallpox vaccines done in Africa in the late 1980s.
On May 25, experts from the NICD in South Africa said that mass vaccination was not needed. They believed that mpox cases would not increase as quickly as COVID-19 cases did.
Because of the mpox outbreak, many countries started buying vaccines. Some also used vaccines from their national stockpiles. In May 2022, the US, Spain, Germany, and the UK all announced they were buying smallpox vaccines.
On May 24, Jennifer McQuiston from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed something important. The United States was releasing some of its Jynneos vaccine supply. This vaccine was from their Strategic National Stockpile. It was meant for people who were at "high-risk" of getting mpox.
Another mpox vaccine is the modern LC16m8 vaccine. This vaccine was made in Japan for their own country. The company that makes it said they could not help other countries with it.
See also
In Spanish: Brote de viruela símica de 2022-presente para niños
