With the outbreak of monkeypox, a new strain called “Clade 1B” appeared, and in this report we introduce you to the countries that registered it.
The World Health Organization says this new strain has been identified in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, countries that have never reported cases of monkeypox.
The disease was previously known as monkeypox, now renamed Mpox, and infections have been on the rise in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which accounts for 96% of all cases in Africa, according to a report in The Independent.
More than 17,000 cases have now been confirmed across the continent, with the World Health Organization saying the outbreak is of “international concern”.
The World Health Organization has now launched a “global strategic preparedness and response plan” aimed at preventing the spread of the new strain.
WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “The outbreak of Embox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries can be controlled and stopped, and doing so requires a comprehensive and coordinated action plan.”
The latest updates from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control reported that more than 100,000 confirmed cases of the “Empox 1” and “2” strains have been identified in more than 120 countries, leading to more than 200 deaths.
For its part, the Public Health Agency in Sweden confirmed that last August, one case of the “Empox 1B” strain was discovered, which is the most disturbing, and reported that the person who was isolated became infected during his stay in an African country, where it was reported. Other cases.
Cases of the variant have also been confirmed in India and Thailand, although it is not thought to be spreading in either country.
On October 30, the United Kingdom’s Health Security Agency confirmed the discovery of one case in London, a person who spent a vacation in Africa and traveled back to the United Kingdom on an overnight flight 9 days ago.
He developed flu-like symptoms more than 24 hours later, and on October 24, he began developing a rash that worsened over the following days. On 27 October, he attended an emergency department in London, where he was swabbed and tested and then sent home to isolate to await the results.
This is a map of all the places where Clade 1B infections have been confirmed so far:
“The emergence of a new strain of Imbox, its rapid spread in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the reporting of cases in several neighboring countries is very worrying,” Ghebreyesus said.
“In addition to the outbreak of other strains of the virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in Africa, it is clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these epidemics and save lives,” he said.
What are the strains of monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a highly contagious viral disease similar to the now eradicated smallpox, but less severe. It is a zoonotic infection, which means it can spread from animals to humans. It can also spread from person to person.
There are two main types of smallpox: Group 1 and Group 2. The group is a broad group of viruses that have evolved over decades and have distinct genetic and clinical differences.
Race “Clade 1” (1 Clade)
It causes more illness and deaths. Some outbreaks have killed as many as 10% of people who fall ill, although more recent outbreaks have had lower death rates. Group 1 is endemic to Central Africa.
Clade 1b strain
This strain is more worrisome than Imbox, and is particularly worrisome due to its higher transmissibility and more severe clinical outcomes.
Clade 2
It was responsible for the global outbreak of the disease in 2022. Infections are less severe. More than 99.9% of people who get it survive. It is endemic to West Africa.
How dangerous is the Clade 1B strain?
The spread of the new “Clade 1B” strain and the high death rate in parts of Africa has raised concern among scientists, and prompted the World Health Organization to declare it a public health emergency of international concern. This new strain is believed to be more deadly than previous strains, with 4 out of every 100 cases leading to death.
Monkeypox can be severe in children, pregnant women, or people with weakened immune systems due to illness or specific treatments.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
Monkeypox’s symptoms are similar to but milder than those of smallpox, with the main difference being that it causes swollen lymph nodes, whereas smallpox does not.
The characteristic symptoms of monkeypox are a characteristic, itchy rash that later turns into blisters. The rash, which can be itchy or very painful, goes through a number of different stages before finally forming a crust, which later falls off. The lesions can cause scarring.
The rash often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body, especially the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It usually appears 2 to 4 days after other symptoms.
Early signs of monkeypox include flu-like symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Goosebumps
- Headache
- Back pain
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Enlarged lymph nodes
The incubation period (time from infection to onset of symptoms) for monkeypox is usually 7 to 14 days, but can range from 5 to 21 days.
How does monkeypox spread?
According to the World Health Organization, the monkeypox outbreak was largely among men who have sex with men. However, experts stressed that anyone can become infected with it, because it usually spreads through close contact with an infected person or animal via large respiratory droplets or through skin-to-skin contact. It can also be spread indirectly through contact with contaminated clothing or bedding used by a person with the rash.
Is there a cure for monkeypox?
Symptoms usually go away on their own without needing treatment and most people recover completely within 2 to 4 weeks. If necessary, pain and fever medications may be used to relieve some symptoms. It is important for anyone with monkeypox to stay hydrated, eat well, and get enough sleep.
The antiviral medications used to treat smallpox can be used to treat anyone who becomes severely ill from monkeypox. People who suspect they have monkeypox should isolate themselves and seek medical care.