Staff Reporter :
In an unstable period, there is a renewed fear of another pandemic. The concern surrounding Mpox still largely depends on the level of infections in neighboring countries. Bangladesh has issued a high alert regarding Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox). This information was revealed in a press release from the Directorate General of Health Services on Saturday (August 17).
If symptoms of Mpox appear, people are urged to contact the Health Directorate’s hotlines at 16263 and 10655 as soon as possible. What is Mpox?
Mpox is a viral disease distinct from chickenpox or smallpox, caused by a different type of poxvirus. There are two main types of Mpox: Clade 1 and Clade 2, with further subdivisions A and B within them. Reports indicate that Clade 1 has been prevalent in Congo for a long time, while Clade 2 has spread across Europe. The mortality rate is lower with Clade 2, but Clade 1, which spread in Africa, has a higher mortality rate, being more severe with 4 out of 100 people succumbing to it.
Recently, the number of Mpox cases has been increasing, particularly in Congo, with the virus spreading to neighboring countries, Europe, and Asia, including Pakistan. Following this rise, the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency for Mpox for the second time since 2022.
How It Spreads
Mpox virus initially emerged from wild an mals. It is now spreading from person to person, increasing the risk.
Physical Contact: The virus spreads through close physical contact between people.
Respiratory Droplets: There is a risk of transmission through the respiratory droplets of an infected person.
Handling Infected Wildlife: Activities like hunting, skinning, or cooking infected wildlife can spread the virus, especially if the meat is undercooked.
Contaminated Items: The virus can spread by using clothes, towels, bed linens, or any items used by an infected person.
Mother-to-Child Transmission: Pregnant women with Mpox can pass the virus to their unborn child.
Dry Blisters: After Mpox blisters dry out, the viral particles in the scab can cause infection if they spread to other places.
Symptoms
Severe Pain: Individuals experience intense pain, more severe than chickenpox.
Swollen Glands: Lymph nodes in the legs, throat, and underarms swell and become painful.
Fever: Swelling and pain lead to a fever.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for Mpox, and no direct medication is available. Research is ongoing to develop a treatment, although some experimental drugs exist. Patients must be isolated and treated based on their symptoms. Pain and inflammation from blisters or pustules should be managed with pain relief medication, while patients should be provided with nutritious food and kept in a clean environment.
Prevention
1. Anyone infected with Mpox should inform others to prevent unnecessary contact.
2. Doctors or anyone in contact with the patient must wear gloves and masks, and treat the patient with maximum safety precautions.
