When I first heard about the Monkeypox (Mpox) virus, a wave of fear hit me. The T.V. screen was buzzed with news alerts, reminding me of those early days of COVID-19—rising case numbers, worried faces on T.V., the same nervous chatter. I stared at the screen, and a feeling of unease and discomfort washed over me when the Mpox rash was shown. Senior year was supposed to be different, filled with last moments and celebrations, but all I could think about was the empty classrooms and canceled plans. The thought of another lockdown crept in, like a dark cloud ready to block out everything just when life started to feel normal again.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Mpox is a zoonotic disease related to smallpox, often causing a rash that progresses through several stages. It can spread between animals and humans and is endemic in parts of Central and West Africa. The virus has been found in small rodents, monkeys, and other mammals in these regions. Monkeypox was first identified in 1958 in Denmark, where research monkeys were housed, which led to its name. The first human case occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1971, and the first case outside Africa appeared in the U.S. in 2003, linked to contact with infected pet prairie dogs housed with Gambian rodents from West Africa. Monkeypox is caused by the human monkeypox virus (MPXV), a double-stranded DNA virus that contains a large genome that allows it to replicate within host cells. It has two genetic clades: the West African clade, with a low mortality rate and no human-to-human transmission, and the Central African clade, which has a higher mortality rate of around 10% and evidence of human transmission.
People with Mpox often develop a rash that may appear on their hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth. The rash progresses through several stages, including scabs, before eventually healing. The blistered skin covering hands, feet, and faces looked raw and painful—almost unbearable. It was hard to decide which was worse: the invisible grip of COVID or the glaring, painful reminder that Mpox left on the skin. The rash wasn’t just something you felt—it was something you could see that made you wince just looking at it, wondering how much worse it must feel. Mpox seemed to announce its presence with every sore.
On August 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The virus has spread to 13 other African countries, Europe, Asia, and North America, and there are 1,000 cases detected in the U.S. alone in the first six months of 2024. What stood out was how Mpox, like so many other diseases, takes hold in places already struggling with poverty and failing infrastructure. It’s no coincidence that it’s common in Central and West Africa, where access to healthcare is scarce, and the systems to control outbreaks are fragile. The virus spreads quickly in these rural areas, where people live so close to wildlife. Unlike wealthier countries that can quickly isolate cases, these regions are left fighting with far fewer resources, often unable to stop the spread in time. It’s a harsh reminder that those with the least are always the hardest hit in a health crisis. Developed countries should allocate resources to help those affected in Africa. For now, I hope efforts are in place to curb the spread of Mpox and prevent it from escalating to the level of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Mpox Symptoms." CDC, 11 Aug. 2023, https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/symptoms/index.html. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
Harvard Medical School. "Mpox Declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern: Now What?" Harvard Medical School, 26 July 2022, https://hms.harvard.edu/news/mpox-declared-public-health-emergency-international-concern-no w-what. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
Isidro, Joana, et al. "Phylogenomic characterization and signs of microevolution in the 2022 multi-country outbreak of monkeypox virus." International Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 122, 2022, pp. 676-681, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1567576922008669. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
"Monkeypox Infection in Pets." PetMD, https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/skin/c_ex_pd_monkeypox_infection. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
Slisco, Aila. "Mpox Update: Map of Global Cases." Newsweek, 22 May 2023, https://www.newsweek.com/mpox-update-map-global-cases-1941738. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
United Nations. "Global Cooperation Vital to Curtail Expanding Threat of Mpox, Say Experts." UN News, 17 Aug. 2024, https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/08/1153361. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
World Health Organization. "Monkeypox." WHO, 23 July 2023, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/monkeypox. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
I throughly enjoyed reading your article about the spread of Mpox. I liked how your article shifted from a personal connection to the topic to a informative review of the current situation in regards to Mpox. You clearly corroborated from numerous sources, ensuring that the information is accurate. The blend of both quantitative and qualitative aided my understanding of the situation. Thank you!