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LETTER • Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde 34 • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.1590/S2237-96222025v34e20240753.en linkcopy
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Open-access Public overview and prevention of mpox

Panorama público y prevención de la mpox

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The study by Macedo and Maciel emphasized mpox - identified in 1958 - as being outstanding internationally in 2022 due to the global outbreak of the disease. The study aimed to clarify that, in 2023, mpox had not yet been declared a Public Health Emergency of National Concern, compromising the safety of the population, as drug treatment was not available (1). There was a need to demonstrate the spread of mpox so that new prevention standards could be established, with the aim of ensuring general well-being.

Mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in 2022, and this status remained in force until May 2023. On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) once again declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to the spread of the clade Ib variant, which had implications for public health (2). The case fatality ratio for this variant was greater than 10.0% among young children in Central Africa when compared to variant IIb. The latter caused an alert in 2022, although its fatality ratio was less than 1.0% (3). Concern arising from the rapid spread of the disease was widespread.

The spread of mpox in 2023 highlighted the importance of paying greater attention to the disease and the need for new research which, as highlighted by the authors, should not be based only on variant IIb, but also on Ib, which emerged in a more aggressive manner. Despite the scarce number of studies in the area of ​​epidemiology on the subject — which makes it difficult to exemplify the statement made above — the Director-General of the WHO publicized the existence of more than 18,000 cases of mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in addition to 615 deaths in the first seven months of 2024 (4).

It is noteworthy that the spread of the new Ib variant is rapid, requiring greater national attention, especially for the development of prevention actions. The ease of transmission of mpox through direct contact with cuts, body fluids or respiratory droplets of an infected person, in addition to contact with contaminated objects, favors contagion and may lead to new epidemic situations in several countries (5). The importance of adopting prevention measures and developing public policies, in order to control this disease stands out.

References

Edited by

  • Editor-in-chief
    Jorge Otávio Maia Barreto

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    02 May 2025
  • Date of issue
    2025

History

  • Received
    13 Nov 2024
  • Accepted
    05 Jan 2025
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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License
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