Mpox is back – and in new countries. How this outbreak can be contained
Summary
Mpox, previously called monkeypox, has appeared in new countries including Guinea Bissau for the first time. Since 2022, nearly 190,000 cases have been reported worldwide, with two main types spreading more easily than before and causing global outbreaks.Key Facts
- Mpox causes flu-like symptoms followed by a rash that turns into blisters and scabs.
- The disease was first found in monkeys in 1958 and mainly affected some African countries before 2022.
- The World Health Organization changed the name from monkeypox to mpox to reduce stigma.
- Two types of mpox exist: Clade I (Congo Basin) and Clade II (West African clade).
- Clade II caused a large global outbreak in 2022, mostly spreading through close sexual contact.
- A new variant of Clade I was identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2024, leading to another outbreak.
- Mpox spreads through close physical contact and can spread in crowded places, including refugee camps.
- International public health emergency declarations for mpox were made in 2022 and 2024 but later lifted as cases declined.
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