Ishita Roy

Mpox Outbreak: Is Mpox Turning Into A Pandemic? Experts Share What Should You Look Out For?

Is Mpox Turning Into A Pandemic Experts Share What Should You Look Out For

Pandemic, endemic, epidemic. These terms are trending all over the internet, leaving many confused. With the <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/mpox">mpox</a></span> on the rise, not knowing what these terms mean can create a state of panic.

Dr Anurag, Head, Koita Center for Digital Health at Ashoka Dean, BioSciences and Health Research, Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University says that mpox is an endemic turned into an epidemic.

<h5 style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: 700; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">What Is An Endemic?</h5>

An endemic is a disease outbreak when it is limited to a particular area. This limitation makes the spread and the rates predictable. For instance, dengue is an endemic, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it an endemic in over 100 countries.

<h5 style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: 700; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">What Is An Epidemic?</h5>

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes it as an unexpected increase in the number of disease cases in a specific geographical area. For instance, the mpox which started from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) spread in the continent of Africa.

<h5 style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: 700; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">What Is A Pandemic?</h5>

WHO declared a pandemic when a disease's growth is exponential. This means that the rate of the spread is at all time high, and there is a growth in the number of cases each day.

Gautam Menon, Dean of Research and Professor of Physics and Biology, Head of Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability (3CS) at Ashoka University says, "It is a matter of definition and the WHO prefers to use the term Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) over the term pandemic. Currently, it has not spread to a large enough number of countries for it to be considered a true pandemic."

Dr Agrawal too agrees and says that mpox is not "yet spreading enough to call pandemic, but fear is that it has the potential to do so."

<h5 style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: 700; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Is It Contagious?</h5>

Yes, it is. Mpox can infect someone through direct or intimate contact, notes Dr Agrawal. "It gets into air but infection by aerosol or respiratory has not yet been proven," he says. Professor Menon notes that it can also spread through infected clothing, however, he notes that there is yet no conclusive proof that it is airborne.

<h5 style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: 700; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">What Are The Major Symptoms?</h5>

The symptoms include painful rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes and exhaustion. Professor Menon notes that the incubation period is around four to 17 days.

<h5 style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: 700; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Is It Fatal?</h5>

Most cases are not fatal, says Dr Agrawal. However out of the two different strains, which are clade 2, clade 1 and clade 1b. The current strain, clade 1b, is however said to be more severe.

WHO has recorded more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths in Africa in 2024 so far, exceeding figures from 2023 with more than 96% of cases and deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo alone.

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Pandemic, endemic, epidemic. These terms are trending all over the internet, leaving many confused. With the mpox on the rise, not knowing what these terms mean can create a state of panic.Dr Anurag, Head, Koita Center for Digital Health at Ashoka Dean, BioSciences and Health Research, Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University says that mpox is an endemic turned into an epidemic.What Is An Endemic?An endemic is a disease outbreak when it is limited to a particular area. This limitation makes the spread and the rates predictable. For instance, dengue is an endemic, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it an endemic in over 100 countries.What Is An Epidemic?The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes it as an unexpected increase in the number of disease cases in a specific geographical area. For instance, the mpox which started from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) spread in the continent of Africa.What Is A Pandemic?WHO declared a pandemic when a disease's growth is exponential. This means that the rate of the spread is at all time high, and there is a growth in the number of cases each day.Gautam Menon, Dean of Research and Professor of Physics and Biology, Head of Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability (3CS) at Ashoka University says, "It is a matter of definition and the WHO prefers to use the term Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) over the term pandemic. Currently, it has not spread to a large enough number of countries for it to be considered a true pandemic."Dr Agrawal too agrees and says that mpox is not "yet spreading enough to call pandemic, but fear is that it has the potential to do so."Is It Contagious?Yes, it is. Mpox can infect someone through direct or intimate contact, notes Dr Agrawal. "It gets into air but infection by aerosol or respiratory has not yet been proven," he says. Professor Menon notes that it can also spread through infected clothing, however, he notes that there is yet no conclusive proof that it is airborne.What Are The Major Symptoms?The symptoms include painful rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes and exhaustion. Professor Menon notes that the incubation period is around four to 17 days.Is It Fatal?Most cases are not fatal, says Dr Agrawal. However out of the two different strains, which are clade 2, clade 1 and clade 1b. The current strain, clade 1b, is however said to be more severe.WHO has recorded more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths in Africa in 2024 so far, exceeding figures from 2023 with more than 96% of cases and deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo alone.