The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the recent mpox outbreak a global health emergency, as the virus continues to spread rapidly around the world. The decision comes amid rising numbers of cases and growing concerns over the emergence of a new variant of the virus. Earlier this week, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) also declared mpox a public health emergency, reporting more than 500 deaths and calling for international assistance to contain the outbreak.

On Wednesday, the WHO raised its alert level for ampox to the highest possible, stressing that more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths have been recorded in Africa alone this year; these figures have already exceeded last year’s total. This is the second time since 2022 that ampox has been labeled a global health emergency, reflecting the severity of the situation and the possibility of the virus spreading to other continents.

Although Ampox outbreak It has caused havoc in more than 110 countries, is India also in danger? Let’s see!

Given the WHO’s recent announcement, there is concern about whether ampox could pose a major health risk to India. Dr Tushar Tayal, Consultant, Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, explains that India’s large population, dense urban areas and interconnected communities make it particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases like ampox.

“Higher population densities in cities can spread infectious diseases, making prevention even more challenging,” Dr. Tayal said. “The sudden emergence of outbreaks can put pressure on medical resources and health infrastructure, as we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially if multiple areas are affected simultaneously.”

Dr. Tayal also said that India’s status as a major global travel hub may increase the risk of the spread and transmission of ampox within the country. In addition, he pointed out that India’s large population of people suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and respiratory diseases may be more susceptible to severe ampox infection due to weakened immune systems.

“India also has a huge disparity in medical infrastructure between urban and rural areas, which can pose challenges in managing disease outbreaks,” Dr Tayal said.

As the global situation continues to evolve, it will be important for India to remain vigilant and prepared to respond to potential threats posed by the spread of ampox. Public health officials will continue to monitor the situation closely, ensuring that appropriate measures are taken to protect the population from this emerging health threat.

Ampox is a viral infection that can affect both humans and animals. It belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus, which is known for causing rash-like diseases including raised bumps on the skin. These bumps often contain fluid or pus, which eventually crust over and heal.

The virus spreads primarily through close contact with an infected animal or person. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with skin lesions, body fluids, or respiratory droplets of an infected person, as well as by touching contaminated objects. Symptoms of ampox usually appear between three and 21 days after contact and can last two to four weeks.

While ampox is generally a self-limited disease, it can lead to serious complications such as encephalitis, pneumonia, respiratory distress and secondary bacterial infections, which can be fatal. Currently, there is no approved antiviral treatment for ampox.

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