Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 9: The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 2,501 newly confirmed mpox cases and 12 associated deaths across 44 countries during October, according to its latest global situation update released on Tuesday. The report notes that all known clades of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) continue to circulate worldwide, underscoring the risk of sustained community transmission when outbreaks are not contained swiftly.

Between October 12 and November 23, 21 African nations documented ongoing mpox transmission, accounting for 1,734 confirmed cases and 10 deaths. The highest caseloads came from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, while Mali reported mpox for the first time.

The WHO also highlighted new imported cases caused by clade Ib MPXV among travellers in Belgium, Germany, Greece, and the United Kingdom. Globally, 43 confirmed clade Ib infections were detected across six WHO regions from September 5 to November 24, outside zones with established community spread. Notably, 24 cases in the Americas, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Western Pacific involved individuals with no recent international travel, indicating emerging local transmission.

As a result, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United States are now classified as experiencing community-level transmission of clade Ib MPXV. Travel-related infections continue to surface, with half of the 43 reported cases occurring among men who have sex with men (MSM). Other cases were linked to travel to areas with known local transmission or contact with infected travellers.

Despite these developments, the WHO assesses the public health risk from clade Ib MPXV as moderate for MSM with new or multiple partners and low for the general population.

Mpox — previously known as monkeypox — spreads primarily through close physical contact. Common symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain, sore throat, a characteristic skin rash, and back pain.