Introduction:
On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of African countries a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005). [1]
The global health community is once again on high alert with the emergence of mpox, a zoonotic illness caused by the monkeypox virus. As we grapple with this new threat, it is imperative to draw lessons from the recent COVID-19 pandemic to inform our response to mpox.
Lessons from COVID-19:
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us several critical lessons that can be applied to the mpox crisis. The need for a strong pandemic accord with equity and accountability is paramount. [2] The pandemic exposed the failings of global health equity, highlighting the necessity for a coordinated international response [2]. The swift development of vaccines and therapeutics during COVID-19 underscores the importance of investment in research and development, as well as the need for rapid and equitable distribution of healthcare interventions. [3]
Risk of Mpox as the Next Pandemic:
The risk of mpox becoming the next pandemic is a growing concern. The virus has been reported in multiple countries, indicating ongoing transmission. [4] The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have declared mpox a public health emergency, emphasizing the urgency of the situation [2]. The high-level emergency meeting in Kinshasa, as reported Cevik et. al. underscores the alarming spread of mpox in Africa and the potential for regional and global transmission. [5]
Populations at Highest Risk:
Certain populations are at higher risk of contracting mpox. The 2022 outbreak in Nigeria, as documented by Ogoina identified young urban adults, those with multiple sex partners, and persons living with HIV as being particularly vulnerable. [6] The outbreak also revealed a concerning trend of transmission through sexual contact, highlighting the need for targeted public health interventions.[5]
Drugs in Development and Repurposing:
Drug development for mpox is an active research topic. A computational method for predicting protein-protein interactions (PPIs) during MPXV infection and identifying potential therapeutic targets has been proposed by Debarati et. al. [3] The study also explores the repurposing of FDA-approved drugs like NADH, Fostamatinib, Glutamic acid, Cannabidiol, Copper, and Zinc for mpox therapy. [3] Additionally, the article discusses the use of third-generation vaccines and the potential deployment of the MVA-BN® non-replicating vaccine by Bavarian Nordic, [5] which was launched in April 2024. [7]
Conclusion:
As we navigate the mpox crisis, the lessons from COVID-19 must inform our actions. The risk of mpox becoming the next pandemic exists, and vulnerable populations must be protected. The development and repurposing of drugs provides hope for effective mpox treatments. A coordinated global effort, with equity and accountability at its core, is required to mitigate the risks posed by mpox and prevent a full-fledged pandemic.
Biblioraphy
- Eurosurveillance editorial, t., Note from the editors: WHO declares mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Euro Surveill, 2024. 29(33).
- Adetifa, I.M. and M. Pai, Mpox outbreaks in Africa-we must avert another failure of global solidarity. BMJ, 2024. 386: p. q1803.
- Paul, D., et al., Computational analysis of pathogen-host interactome for fast and low-risk in-silico drug repurposing in emerging viral threats like Mpox. Sci Rep, 2024. 14(1): p. 18736.
- Kerkhoff, A.D., J. Zucker, and D.V. Havlir, CROI 2024: Tuberculosis, Mpox, and Other Infectious Complications in People With HIV. Top Antivir Med, 2024. 32(3): p. 492-503.
- Cevik, M., et al., The 2023 – 2024 multi-source mpox outbreaks of Clade I MPXV in sub-Saharan Africa: Alarm bell for Africa and the World. IJID Reg, 2024. 12: p. 100397.
- Ogoina, D., et al., Mpox Epidemiology and Risk Factors, Nigeria, 2022. Emerg Infect Dis, 2024. 30(9).
- Bavarian Nordic. Bavarian Nordic Announces Commercial Launch of Mpox Vaccine in the U.S. 2024 [cited 2024 21 August 2924]; Available from: https://www.bavarian-nordic.com/media/media/news.aspx?news=6931.
