Mpox is not the new Covid as authorities can control its spread, stresses WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) stressed on Tuesday (Aug 20) that the mpox virus, regardless of whether it was the new or old strain, was not the new coronavirus (Covid), as authorities knew how to control its spread.

Addressing a press conference, WHO's Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge said, "We can and must tackle mpox together."

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"So will we choose to put the systems in place to control and eliminatempoxglobally? Or we will enter another cycle of panic and neglect? How we respond now and in the years to come will prove a critical test for Europe and the world," he added.

The rapid spread of mpox variant clade 1b

Last week, the WHO declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years as a new variant of the disease, known as clade 1b, spread rapidly in Africa.

A case of the variant was confirmed in Sweden marking the first case reportedoutside Africa. Mpox cases have also been detected in Pakistan and the Philippines. In Pakistan, the mpox case is of the clade 2 variant while the strain of the case in the Philippines is yet to be determined.

The clade 1bhas triggered global concern because it seems to spread more easily through routine close contact.

'A chance to refocus on clade 2 variety'

During Tuesday's press conference, Kluge also pointed out that the focus on clade 1b gave Europe a chance torefocus on the less severe clade 2 variety, including better public health advice and surveillance.

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"...today, we're seeing about 100 newmpoxclade 2 cases in the European region every single month. However, the current state of alert due to clade 1 gives Europe the opportunity to refocus on clade 2," he added.

India's AIIMS issues guidelines for handling suspected patients

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi,on Tuesday, issued guidelines for handling suspected mpox patients andallocated five beds for treatment in isolation.

The guidelines said that such patients should be immediately placed in a designated isolation area to minimise contact with other patients and staff. They said that patients with fever, rash, or a history of contact with confirmed mpox cases should be flagged for immediate assessment.

The guidelines also called for identifying key symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, and swollen lymph nodes.

(With inputs from agencies)