THE ongoing global outbreak of Clade II Mpox has resulted in more than 100 000 cases being recorded in 122 countries, including 115 nations where mpox was not previously reported.
The outbreak is caused by the stubborn subclade 1b and IIb, which seem to be moving at supersonic speed.
Zimbabwe has recorded two confirmed cases, which are 400km apart as one case is in Harare and the other one is in Mberengwa.
It will be preposterous to assume that we only have these two reported cases considering the pathogenicity and transmission of the mpox virus.
Many people who could have come into contact with the cases and the infected ones may decide to hide away for fear of public scrutiny.
Imagine mpox affecting religious sects that do not believe in seeking healthcare services!
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Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by an orthopoxvirus that results in small-pox like disease in humans.
In August, the World Health Organisation declared the spread of mpox a public health emergency of international concern.
It was just four years ago when the world was thrown into an abyss by the emergence of the heinous COVID-19, which decimated millions of people.
Smallpox, which falls in the same family as mpox, was declared eradicated in 1980 after universal child immunisation programmes, mass vaccinations in other countries and targeted surveillance-containment strategies.
Communicable diseases can be difficult to understand their epidemiological curves, hence it is prudent to be extra cautious, especially when the natural history of the disease is not fully understood.
Many people want to know how Mpox is spread and it is prudent to understand that animal-to-human transmission can occur from direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, cutaneous or mucosal lesions of infected animals.
Human-to-human transmission can result from close contact with respiratory secretions, bodily fluids, skin lesions of an infected person or recently contaminated objects.
People are infectious while they have symptoms usually between two and four weeks until the crusts that formed separate and a fresh layer of skin has formed.
Clothing, bedding, towels or objects such as eating utensils that have been contaminated with the virus from a contact with an infected person can also infect others.
Ulcers, lesions, sores in the mouth can also be infectious, meaning the virus can spread via saliva as well as well as mother-to-child transmission
Health workforce remains of great relevance both in transmission of, containment and mitigation against Mpox.
Health workers have very high risks of contracting Mpox and can act as agents of spread of the virus if proper care is not taken note of.
With case fatality rate now even reaching 4% in some areas, the disease can be quite frightening.
People should not relax when we are now having cases of the infectious virus in the country.
The virus’s history of rapid spread necessitates a proactive and coordinated international response.
We should take this time to fully prepare for all eventualities.
Public health measures remain of great importance to us as all.
It is critical to underscore the need for enhanced health education, health promotion, robust diagnosis, testing, increased surveillance, contact tracing and prompt case management.
A well-informed public is more likely to recognise the signs and symptoms of mpox in time, leading to prompt diagnosis and quicker medical attention.
There are many determinants of health which are associated with such contagious diseases, which include behavioural and social, and working on them would be a step in the right direction.
Discipline plays a significant role in reducing transmission.
With the emergence of mpox subclades, some of which are more quickly transmitted through having sex, having multiple sexual partners may be highly catastrophic.
During public health emergencies, many people die because of misinformation and disinformation.
These can be products of conspiracy theories where people want to interpret in their own ways.
It is undeniable that vaccination remains key if we are to contain outbreaks, the same success achieved against smallpox in 1980.
This is the time for our authorities to start sourcing essential vaccines before the virus spirals out of control.
We cannot afford to continue losing our people from vaccine-controlled diseases in this era and age.
- Johannes Marisa is a medical practitioner who is the current president of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners Association of Zimbabwe.