Ishita Roy

Mpox Outbreak: Is There a Cure for Mpox? Experts Share Everything You Need to Know

Mpox Outbreak Is There a Cure for Mpox Experts Share Everything You Need to Know

With mpox cases on the rise, and Indian airports at high alert, a concern that looms over us is if mpox is curable?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US says that currently there is no treatment approved specifically for <span>mpox virus</span> infections. However, patients who have the infection but do not have the skin disease can get supportive care and pain control to recover. 

However, there are severe effects that one can experience, which include ocular infection, meaning an eye infection caused by microorganism. Others include neurologic complications, myopericarditis, which is the inflammation in two different parts of your heart, mucosal complications, and other complication including advanced HIV infection. 

CDC states that patients who are immunocompromised or have existing skin conditions like eczema are at an increased risk of uncontrolled viral spread. 

Mayo Clinic states that the majority of treatment focuses on relieving symptoms. Care includes managing skin damage that are caused by the rash, drinking enough liquid and pain management. 

CDC notes that therapeutics for mpox treatment <span>Tecovirimat</span>, also known TOPXX is a novel antiviral that was made available for treatment for patients who were infected during the global outbreak in 2022. 

It was originally developed to treat smallpox, but animal studies suggest that it can also help treat mpox. Study of Tecovirimat for Mpox (STOMP) is currently conducting the clinical trial of the treatment.

Brincidofovir and Vaccine Immune Globulin (VIGIV) are additional therapeutics that are also considered for treating patients, mentions CDC. Brincidofovir was also used for treating smallpox, however it is also effective against orthopoxviruses in in vitro (test-tube) and in animal studies. For patients with eye infections, trifluridine ophthalmic solution can also be considered.

There are no vaccines as of now, however, Dr Madhumitha R, senior consultant, Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, MGM healthcare says that the virus in mpox is similar to that of small pox. "Thus the same vaccine can be used. However, small pox has been eradicated and the vaccines have been discontinued since 1979."

Gautam Menon, Dean of Research and Professor of Physics and Biology, Head of Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability (3CS) at Ashoka University says that currently nothing is indicate, apart from rest and isolation. However he also points out that the virus causing mpox is related to one of the small pox vaccine. These viruses are also called the vaccina viruses, notes Dr Madhumitha R.

"There is no specific treatment. Tecovirimat is an antiviral drug that was used earlier but is now understood to have no positive effect in the more transmissible mpox 1b clade that is responsible for the recent outbreak in Africa and outside," suggests Professor Menon. Dr Madhumitha R points out that Tecovirimat is only able to stop the virus replication. 

Currently only two vaccines are approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO), points out Dr Anurag Agrawal, Head, Koita Center for Digital Health at Ashoka Dean, BioSciences and Health Research, Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University. These vaccines include Jynneos made by Bavarian Nordic, and LC16, made by KM Biologics in Japan. However, points out Dr Agrawal, that they are not available globally and it needs to be produced in mass. "India could take a lead," he suggests.

<h5 style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: var(--fontFamily);">What Are The Symptoms?</h5>

The earliest signs of mpox start within the 14 days of being infected. A person may not know they have mpox and can spread through travelling.

The signs include getting a fever, sweating, and having chills through your body.

Other signs involve rashes, which start as a distant rash on the face and can continue throughout the body, swollen lymph nodes, migraine, muscle aches, fatigue, weakness and back pain.

Earlier on August 14, World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a public health emergency.

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With mpox cases on the rise, and Indian airports at high alert, a concern that looms over us is if mpox is curable?The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US says that currently there is no treatment approved specifically for mpox virus infections. However, patients who have the infection but do not have the skin disease can get supportive care and pain control to recover. However, there are severe effects that one can experience, which include ocular infection, meaning an eye infection caused by microorganism. Others include neurologic complications, myopericarditis, which is the inflammation in two different parts of your heart, mucosal complications, and other complication including advanced HIV infection. CDC states that patients who are immunocompromised or have existing skin conditions like eczema are at an increased risk of uncontrolled viral spread. Can We Cure Mpox?Mayo Clinic states that the majority of treatment focuses on relieving symptoms. Care includes managing skin damage that are caused by the rash, drinking enough liquid and pain management. CDC notes that therapeutics for mpox treatment Tecovirimat, also known TOPXX is a novel antiviral that was made available for treatment for patients who were infected during the global outbreak in 2022. It was originally developed to treat smallpox, but animal studies suggest that it can also help treat mpox. Study of Tecovirimat for Mpox (STOMP) is currently conducting the clinical trial of the treatment.Brincidofovir and Vaccine Immune Globulin (VIGIV) are additional therapeutics that are also considered for treating patients, mentions CDC. Brincidofovir was also used for treating smallpox, however it is also effective against orthopoxviruses in in vitro (test-tube) and in animal studies. For patients with eye infections, trifluridine ophthalmic solution can also be considered.Vaccines For Mpox There are no vaccines as of now, however, Dr Madhumitha R, senior consultant, Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, MGM healthcare says that the virus in mpox is similar to that of small pox. "Thus the same vaccine can be used. However, small pox has been eradicated and the vaccines have been discontinued since 1979."Gautam Menon, Dean of Research and Professor of Physics and Biology, Head of Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability (3CS) at Ashoka University says that currently nothing is indicate, apart from rest and isolation. However he also points out that the virus causing mpox is related to one of the small pox vaccine. These viruses are also called the vaccina viruses, notes Dr Madhumitha R."There is no specific treatment. Tecovirimat is an antiviral drug that was used earlier but is now understood to have no positive effect in the more transmissible mpox 1b clade that is responsible for the recent outbreak in Africa and outside," suggests Professor Menon. Dr Madhumitha R points out that Tecovirimat is only able to stop the virus replication. Currently only two vaccines are approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO), points out Dr Anurag Agrawal, Head, Koita Center for Digital Health at Ashoka Dean, BioSciences and Health Research, Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University. These vaccines include Jynneos made by Bavarian Nordic, and LC16, made by KM Biologics in Japan. However, points out Dr Agrawal, that they are not available globally and it needs to be produced in mass. "India could take a lead," he suggests.What Are The Symptoms?The earliest signs of mpox start within the 14 days of being infected. A person may not know they have mpox and can spread through travelling.The signs include getting a fever, sweating, and having chills through your body.Other signs involve rashes, which start as a distant rash on the face and can continue throughout the body, swollen lymph nodes, migraine, muscle aches, fatigue, weakness and back pain.Earlier on August 14, World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a public health emergency.