The World Health Organization’s declaration of an international health emergency over mpox has raised concerns worldwide. Despite decades of research, simple questions about the disease’s danger and variant differences remain unclear. Mpox, previously restricted to African countries, has spread globally, with varying mortality rates. Factors like quality of medical care, patient vulnerability, and transmission methods contribute to these differences.
Researchers struggle to determine the health risks and transmission of different mpox clades. The 2022-23 epidemic was caused by Clade 2, while the current DRC outbreak stems from Clade 1, associated with higher mortality rates. However, experts caution against drawing conclusions due to varying contexts and populations.
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