What is monkeypox? WHO declares mpox outbreak a global health emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency over the ongoing monkeypox outbreak in Africa.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had declared the outbreak a public health emergency this week and warned that the increasing spread of mpox can possibly spill beyond their borders.

A deadlier strain of the virus has been found in four previously unaffected provinces in Africa, which had previously been contained to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

More than 17,000 cases and 500 deaths have been reported in 13 African countries this year, according to the Africa CDC. More than 14,000 were reported this month from the DRC.

In 2022, the United States declared monkeypox a public health emergency. It was part of an mpox outbreak that had reported cases spread across all fifty states.

Here’s what you need to know about mpox.

What is mpox?

Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the highly contagious Monkeypox virus. It is from the same family as smallpox, but not related to chickenpox.

The virus comes in two types: Clade 1 causes more severe illness and death and is endemic to Central Africa; and Clade 2 is the type that caused the global outbreak that started in 2022, is less severe and is endemic to West Africa.

Both types can easily spread between people through physical contact, infected animals or contaminated materials. Symptoms include a painful skin rash or mucosal lesions, enlarged lymph nodes, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue and fever.

While most people fully recover, some get very sick. Children, pregnant people and people with weak immune systems are at higher risk for complications from mpox.