Key points

• Different Strain: The 2024 mpox variant is a different strain than the one that circulated in 2022-2023.
• More Severe Symptoms: This new strain is associated with more severe symptoms, including higher fever, more extensive rashes, and potentially more serious complications.
• Faster Spread: The new variant may spread more quickly than the previous one, making it easier for people to become infected.
• Higher Risk Groups: Certain groups of people, such as children and pregnant women, may be at a higher risk of severe illness from the new variant.
• Vaccination and Prevention: While the smallpox vaccine is still effective against mpox, it’s important to stay up-to-date on vaccination recommendations and to practice good hygiene to prevent infection.

One of the most significant differences is the severity of symptoms. People infected with the new variant are more likely to experience higher fevers, more extensive rashes, and potentially more serious complications. This is in contrast to the milder symptoms often seen with the previous strain.

Another concern is the potential for faster spread. The new variant may be more contagious than the old one, making it easier for people to become infected. This could lead to larger outbreaks and a more widespread distribution of the virus.

Certain groups of people may be at a higher risk of severe illness from the new variant. Children and pregnant women, for example, may be more susceptible to complications. It’s important for these individuals to be aware of the risks and to take steps to protect themselves.

While the smallpox vaccine is still effective against mpox, it’s important to stay up-to-date on vaccination recommendations. Additionally, practicing good hygiene, such as washing your hands frequently and avoiding close contact with sick people, can help prevent infection.  

As scientists continue to learn more about the new mpox variant, it’s essential to stay informed and follow the guidance of public health officials. By understanding the risks and taking appropriate precautions, we can help protect ourselves and our communities from this infectious disease.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult with a healthcare professional for any questions or concerns about mpox.

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Key points

• The Philippines confirmed its first mpox case of 2024, involving a 33-year-old man with no travel history.
• The patient exhibited fever and rashes, typical symptoms of mpox.
• The virus is under investigation to determine if it is the new, deadlier Clade 1 strain spreading in Africa.
• Mpox spreads through close contact and can be dangerous to vulnerable groups.
• The WHO declared mpox a global health emergency, with over 17,000 cases and 500 deaths reported worldwide this year.

The Philippines has reported its first mpox case this year, just days after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a global health emergency. The patient, a 33-year-old Filipino man, showed symptoms more than a week ago, despite having no recent travel history outside the country. His condition has raised concerns about the virus’s potential spread within the Philippines.

The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that the man began experiencing fever over a week ago, followed by a distinct rash on his face, back, and other parts of his body, including the palms and soles of his feet. The rash is a common symptom of mpox, a virus related to smallpox but generally causing milder symptoms.

The health department announced that this is the country’s 10th confirmed case since the mpox virus was first detected in the Philippines in July 2022. All previous patients have recovered, and there have been no fatalities reported from the virus in the country.

“We are awaiting the sequencing results to determine which strain of mpox is responsible for this case,” said DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo. The concern is whether this case involves the new, deadlier variant of mpox (Clade 1), which has emerged in recent outbreaks, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The WHO has declared mpox a global health emergency after a resurgence of the virus in Africa led to outbreaks in several countries. This declaration came in response to the rising number of cases in the DRC, where the virus has infected thousands and led to over 500 deaths this year alone. Clade 1, the newer strain, has spread more rapidly and with a higher fatality rate compared to the previous variant, Clade 2b, which caused global outbreaks in 2022.

Health officials emphasize that the public should remain vigilant, though the risk to the general population is still considered low. Mpox primarily spreads through close contact with infected individuals, and the patient’s lack of travel history suggests the virus could already be circulating within the country.

Mpox typically causes flu-like symptoms, such as fever and body aches, followed by the development of painful, pus-filled lesions. While the disease is usually mild, it can pose serious risks for vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

The Philippines is ramping up testing efforts and remains in close coordination with the WHO to monitor and contain the virus. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa reassured the public, saying, “Our health system is working, and we will continue to keep the public informed.”

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Mexico and Cuba have reported the deaths of two people who had tested positive to monkeypox, although neither country attributed the fatalities to the viral disease. Τhe reports follow monkeypox related deaths reported in Brazil and Ecuador in the past month, but fatalities remain extremely rare in the current outbreak.

The Pan-American Health Organisation has reported at least 21,200 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the Americas, while more than 80 countries worldwide have reported new cases of the illness, which is endemic in parts of Africa. Mexico’s health ministry on Tuesday said experts were investigating the death of an HIV-positive patient who had died from septic shock and pneumonia after testing positive for monkeypox. Mexico has reported 386 confirmed and 862 probable cases of monkeypox infection.

Cuban authorities said a 50-year-old Italian man died on Sunday after being diagnosed with monkeypox on Saturday. The public health ministry said the tourist, who had arrived on August 15, had been in an unstable condition since Thursday and rapidly deteriorated. The ministry pointed to an autopsy report that reported the cause of death as sepsis linked to pneumonia and organ damage.

The World Health Organisation has warned that people with underlying immune deficiencies could be at risk of more serious symptoms and death after contracting monkeypox. Nearly 45,000 monkeypox infections have been reported worldwide since May.

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Paris: French researchers have documented the first case of a dog with confirmed monkeypox virus infection that might have been acquired through human transmission. Published in medical journal The Lancet, a team from the Sorbonne University in Paris recorded the case of monekypox virus in two men who have sex with men: an HIV-positive Latino man, aged 44 years, living with undetectable viral loads on antiretrovirals; and a HIV-negative white man, aged 27 years.

Twelve days after the onset of monkeypox symptoms, their male Italian greyhound, aged 4 years and with no previous medical disorders, tested positive for the virus. The men, who are non-exclusive partners living in the same household, presented with anal skin ulcer 6 days after sex with other partners.

In the Latino man, anal skin ulcer was followed by rash on the face, ears, and legs, while the white man had it on the legs and back. In both cases, rash was associated with weakness, headaches, and fever 4 days later.The dog, who was co-sleeping with the men, presented with mucocutaneous (involving both typical skin and mucous membrane) lesions, including red, tender bumps with white pus on abdomen and anal skin ulcer.

The team sequenced monkeypox virus DNA from the dog and the Latino man and found that the samples contained virus of the hMPXV-1 clade, lineage B.1, which has been spreading in non-endemic countries since April. “To the best of our knowledge, the kinetics of symptom onset in both patients and, subsequently, in their dog suggest human-to-dog transmission of monkeypox virus,” Sophie Seang,from theA University’s Infectious Diseases Department, along with her team wrote in the paper.

Given the dog’s skin and mucosal lesions as well as the positive monkeypox virus PCR results from anal and oral swabs, we hypothesise a real canine disease, not a simple carriage of the virus by close contact with humans or airborne transmission (or both),” the team added.In endemic countries, only wild animals (rodents and primates) have been found to carry monkeypox virus.

However, transmission of monkeypox virus in prairie dogs has been described in the US and in captive primates in Europe that were in contact with imported infected animals. But infection among domesticated animals, such as dogs and cats, has never been reported, the researchers said, suggesting the need to keep pets away from infected patients.

“Our findings should prompt debate on the need to isolate pets from monkeypox virus-positive individuals,” the team said, calling for further investigation on secondary transmissions via pets.

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The observational study, which has been carried out in three sexual health units in Madrid and Barcelona, ​​determines that almost half of the patients analyzed presented complications that required medical treatment, mainly to reduce the pain associated with proctitis (25 %), tonsillar ulceration (11%) and penile edema (8%).

Three patients even required admission for complications derived from these manifestations. Furthermore, all participants presented skin lesions, in the anogenital or perioral region. Another relevant conclusion of the research points to “skin-to-skin contact” during sexual intercourse as the “dominant factor” in the transmission of monkeypox, over airborne transmission.

On the other hand, they concluded that, given the short incubation period, pre-exposure vaccination of high-risk groups is likely to be more effective than post-exposure vaccination for infection control. Finally, the researchers note that viral loads are “surprisingly” higher in swabs (the samples collected) from skin lesions compared to relatively low levels in pharyngeal swabs.

Therefore, they point out that this fact “must be investigated further to find out if respiratory transmission is viable and consequently guide the decision regarding home respiratory isolation of those affected.” In the evaluation of the 181 confirmed cases used, 175 (98%) were men, 166 of whom were identified as men who have sex with men.

The 12 de Octubre University Hospital, the Germans Trias University Hospital – Fight Against Infections Foundation and the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital collaborated in the study, with the participation of the London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

Last May, the first autochthonous cases of monkeypox were reported in Europe, giving rise to an international outbreak. Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international health emergency, its highest level of alert, due to the current outbreak of this disease, which on August 5 already totaled more than 26,000 cases (seven of them fatal) in nearly 90 countries, many of them in Europe, where the disease was not endemic.

The United States remains the country with the most reported cases, with 6,307, followed by Spain (4,577), Germany (2,839), the United Kingdom (2,759) and France (2,239). EFE

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The death occurred on Monday, August 8. Ecuador registered 10 cases of monkeypox virus, the last three were identified in Azuay, Los Ríos and Santa Elena. Ecuador records the death of a patient suffering from monkeypox, however, the disease was not the cause of death, clarified the Ministry of Public Health (MSP).

The death occurred on August 8, as a result of a “pre-existing pathology” of the patient, said Francisco Pérez, Undersecretary of Public Health Surveillance. Pérez explained that so far the country has registered 10 cases of monkeypox, including the deceased patient.

The last three reported cases are people between 20 and 49 years old, who were identified in the provinces of Santa Elena, Los Ríos and Azuay. They are stable in their homes and under surveillance; In addition, the epidemiological fence with his close contacts has been lifted.

The Undersecretary of Public Health Surveillance announced that it is investigating whether there is a relationship between these three cases; If the investigations conclude that there was no relationship, it could be determined that they were community infections, which will be reported at the time, Pérez said. Of the people suffering from the disease, currently four have already come out of isolation, while another five remain isolated.

The Ministry of Health called on citizens to maintain biosafety measures, such as hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol gel. In case of symptoms, it is recommended to wear a mask and see a doctor. Before the death of the person sick with monkeypox was confirmed, the first case of contagion had been confirmed in Santa Elena. Ecuador confirmed the first case on July 6. According to a statement from the Ministry of Public Health, it was a 30-year-old patient who presented symptoms related to that disease.

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Peru has recorded on Monday the first death of a monkeypox infected person. There have been over 300 instances of the disease reported in the country up to now an official from the health department said. The patient who died occurred in “a patient who came to hospital in a serious condition with monkeypox and their health weakened after abandoning treatment for HIV/Aids,” according to Eduardo Farfan, director of the Dos de Mayo hospital in Lima.

The man, aged 45 was pronounced dead “of sepsis” due to an immune system that was weak according to Farfan.He was admitted to a hospital with an acute monkeypox infection as well as “other comorbidities,” said the director.

Farfan stated that his hospital was treating eight or nine cases monkeypox daily, as outpatients.

In the words of the WHO the WHO, more than 20,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported across the globe, excluding Africa from the beginning of May. The majority of them found in Europe.

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Spain has reported a second death within 24 hours from monkeypox as country’s Health ministry announced Saturday. They are believed to be the first deaths confirmed from monkeypox after its spread within the European Union. The ministry did not provide any details regarding the deceased. It announced its first fatality from the illness yesterday – on Friday.

The worldwide monkeypox outbreak has resulted in nearly 22,000 people afflicted across around 80 countries from May. There were at least 75 reported suspected deaths from Africa most of them located in Nigeria and Congo in which the more deadly type of monkeypox is more prevalent rather than in the west. Brazil also reported a fatality associated with monkeypox on Friday.

This past Friday Spain’s Health ministry revealed that 4,298 people infected by the virus which makes it the top European nation for cases of monkeypox. In all, 3500 cases were among males who had had sexual relations with other males. Only 64 of them were females.

The ministry reported that 120 people required hospital care.

Health authorities have administered 5,300 vaccinations that Spain got from the joint EU vaccination purchase scheme. Health experts say that’s a lot lower than the quantity needed to protect vulnerable populations.

Monkeypox has been prevalent in regions of Africa for a long time. The spread of the disease into Europe as well as North America was linked by experts to two outbreaks that occurred in Belgium as well as Spain.

It’s spread mostly through skin-to skin contact, however, it can be transmitted via sheets that are used by people suffering from monkeypox. The symptoms include body aches, fever chills, fatigue, and itching. The condition has been moderate in a lot of males. However, it is possible to spread the disease for weeks, and lesions can be very painful.

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Spain reported on Friday its first monkeypox-related death, El Mundo and ABC newspapers reported, quoting the Spanish Health Ministry.

Earlier on Friday, Brazil reported the first monkeypox related death outside the African continent in the current outbreak, a 41-year-old man who, according to the health ministry, also suffered from lymphoma and a weakened immune system.

In its most recent report in its most recent report, the Spanish Health Ministry said 4,298 cases were confirmed across Spain. Of the 3750 patients it could provide information on, it noted that 120 were hospitalized, which amounts to 3.2 percent of the population – while one person has died but did not provide further information.

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