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New Strain of Mpox Virus in India: More Dangerous Than Coronavirus? Watch the Video for Crucial Details!

by Dr. Shruthi R September 26, 2024

written by Dr. Shruthi R

Mpox Virus New Strain: A new strain of Mpox (Monkeypox) has been found in India, and it is believed to be more dangerous than the corona virus! In this video, we will learn what the new strain of Mpox is, what are its symptoms, and how it spreads. Apart from this, we will also discuss ways to stay safe from this virus and understand its effects.

Mpox Virus New Strain: A Potential Threat More Dangerous Than the Coronavirus?

In recent months, there has been growing concern about a new strain of the Mpox virus (formerly known as Monkeypox) that has been discovered in India. Public health experts and authorities have raised alarms, comparing its potential dangers to the coronavirus pandemic. With its emergence, there are fears that this new strain may pose an even greater threat than the previous Mpox strains, due to its increased transmission capability and potentially more severe symptoms. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore what the new strain of Mpox is, its symptoms, how it spreads, and what preventive measures can be taken to protect oneself from this virus.

1. Understanding the Mpox Virus: A Brief Overview

Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans. The virus is a part of the Orthopoxvirus family, which also includes viruses like smallpox. Historically, Mpox has been endemic in parts of Central and West Africa, where outbreaks have been linked to close contact with animals, especially rodents and primates.

Mpox was first identified in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It has since spread to various other countries through human-to-human transmission, albeit less efficiently than viruses like the flu or coronavirus. Until recently, outbreaks were sporadic and contained, with limited cases outside of Africa. However, in 2022 and 2023, global outbreaks of Mpox began to alarm health officials as the virus reached non-endemic regions, including Europe and the Americas. Now, with a new strain emerging in India, concerns are mounting.

2. The Emergence of the New Strain: What We Know So Far

The discovery of a new strain of the Mpox virus in India has sparked immediate concern. Scientists believe this new variant may be more virulent and contagious compared to previously known strains. Preliminary data suggests that this strain has mutated in ways that could enhance its ability to spread more efficiently among humans, increasing the likelihood of an outbreak. While previous strains of Mpox typically had a low transmission rate between humans, this new variant may spread more easily through close contact, respiratory droplets, and possibly even through surface contamination, similar to the way the coronavirus spreads.

Moreover, the new strain in India is suspected of causing more severe symptoms in those infected, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions. This has led to a rapid response from Indian health authorities to contain the virus and prevent its further spread.

3. Symptoms of the New Mpox Strain: What to Look Out For

The symptoms of Mpox are similar to other poxviruses but can vary in severity depending on the strain. For this new strain, the symptoms appear to be more intense and potentially life-threatening for some individuals. Below are the key symptoms:

Initial Symptoms:

Fever: One of the earliest signs of infection is a high fever, often accompanied by chills.
Headache: Severe headaches, sometimes debilitating, have been reported.
Muscle Aches: Muscle pain and weakness are common.
Fatigue: The virus can cause extreme fatigue, often leading to bed rest.
Swollen Lymph Nodes: Lymphadenopathy, or swollen lymph nodes, is a hallmark symptom of Mpox and distinguishes it from smallpox.

Advanced Symptoms:

Rash and Skin Lesions: After a few days of the initial symptoms, a rash typically develops. The rash starts as flat red spots that later turn into raised bumps, eventually becoming fluid-filled blisters (vesicles) and then scabs. These lesions can appear anywhere on the body, but they are most commonly found on the face, palms, and soles of the feet.
Painful Sores: In severe cases, these lesions can become large and painful, particularly in mucosal areas such as the mouth, eyes, and genital regions.
Pneumonia and Respiratory Issues: In some cases, individuals may develop severe respiratory symptoms, leading to pneumonia.

4. How the Virus Spreads: Modes of Transmission

The new strain of the Mpox virus is believed to spread more easily than its predecessors. Understanding how the virus transmits is crucial for preventing further spread. Here are the primary ways it is transmitted:

Human-to-Human Transmission:

Close Contact: The virus spreads primarily through direct contact with the rash, scabs, or bodily fluids of an infected person. This includes touching contaminated clothing, bedding, or surfaces that have been in contact with lesions.
Respiratory Droplets: Respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or talking can transmit the virus, particularly in close proximity.
Prolonged Face-to-Face Contact: Similar to coronavirus, prolonged face-to-face interactions increase the risk of transmission through respiratory droplets.
Sexual Contact: While Mpox is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection (STI), it can be transmitted during intimate contact, including kissing and close skin-to-skin contact.

Animal-to-Human Transmission:

Infected Animals: The original transmission of Mpox to humans comes from close contact with infected animals, particularly primates and rodents. Handling animals or eating improperly cooked bushmeat can increase the risk of infection.

5. Comparing Mpox to Coronavirus: Which Is More Dangerous?

While coronavirus has caused a global pandemic with millions of deaths, the Mpox virus is traditionally less contagious. However, the new strain of Mpox presents a different challenge. There are several reasons why experts believe this new strain could be more dangerous than the coronavirus:

1. Higher Mortality Rate:

Historically, the mortality rate for Mpox has been between 1-10%, depending on the strain and the quality of medical care available. For comparison, COVID-19’s mortality rate has been between 1-3% in most countries. If this new strain of Mpox exhibits a higher mortality rate than previous strains, it could prove to be deadlier.

2. Different Modes of Transmission:

While Mpox has traditionally spread through close physical contact, the new strain is suspected to spread more effectively through respiratory droplets, making it more contagious than older versions. However, it still appears to be less contagious than COVID-19, which spreads rapidly through the air over longer distances.

3. Longer Incubation Period:

The incubation period for Mpox is typically between 5 and 21 days, which is longer than the incubation period for COVID-19. This means individuals could potentially spread the virus unknowingly for a longer period before showing symptoms, increasing the risk of an outbreak.

4. Severity of Symptoms:

Mpox can cause more severe symptoms than mild cases of COVID-19. The painful skin lesions, swollen lymph nodes, and potential respiratory complications can be more debilitating than the typical flu-like symptoms of COVID-19.

6. Prevention and Safety Measures: How to Stay Safe

Preventing the spread of the new strain of Mpox requires awareness and adherence to safety measures. Here are some key ways to protect yourself and others:

1. Practice Good Hygiene:

Handwashing: Regularly wash your hands with soap and water, especially after touching surfaces or being in public places.
Disinfection: Clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces, especially if someone in your household is showing symptoms of illness.

2. Avoid Close Contact with Infected Individuals:

Isolate Suspected Cases: If someone is showing symptoms of Mpox, particularly skin lesions, isolate them to avoid spreading the virus.
Use Protective Gear: Healthcare workers and caregivers should use protective gear, such as gloves and masks, when caring for infected individuals.

3. Safe Animal Practices:

Avoid Contact with Wild Animals: To reduce the risk of animal-to-human transmission, avoid contact with wild animals, particularly rodents and primates.
Proper Cooking: Ensure that all animal products, such as meat, are cooked thoroughly to kill any potential viruses.

4. Get Vaccinated:

Vaccination: Some vaccines used to eradicate smallpox have been found effective against Mpox. Consult with health authorities to determine if vaccination is recommended, especially for high-risk groups such as healthcare workers.

7. A Serious Public Health Threat

The emergence of a new strain of Mpox in India presents a serious public health concern, with the potential to cause widespread illness. While it may not spread as quickly as COVID-19, the virus’s higher mortality rate, severe symptoms, and ability to spread through both physical and respiratory contact make it a threat that should not be underestimated.

By understanding the symptoms, transmission methods, and preventive measures, individuals can protect themselves and help prevent the virus from spreading further. Governments, healthcare providers, and individuals alike must remain vigilant and prepared to respond to this new strain of Mpox. Continued research and global cooperation are essential to control this outbreak and prevent another global health crisis like the coronavirus pandemic.

September 26, 2024 0 comment

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Covid mutation in India ‘variant of concern’: WHO

by Medically Speaking Team May 10, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

A Covid-19 variant spreading in India, the B.1.617, appears to be more contagious and has been classified as being “of concern”, the World Health Organization said Monday.

“There is some available information to suggest increased transmissibility,” and also possibly some increased resistance to vaccine protections, Maria Van Kerkove, WHO’s lead on Covid-19, told reporters. “As such, we are classifying this as a variant of concern at the global level,” she added.

May 10, 2021 0 comment

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New virus may be driving India’s Covid surge

by Medically Speaking Team April 8, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

India crossed 100,000 new daily infections on Sunday, and its wealthiest state Maharashtra has emerged as the epicenter. It halted all non-essential services, ordered private companies to work from home, and shut malls and restaurants through April.

Other states have also imposed restrictions though none as severe. After new variants from the UK were discovered in several inbound passengers, India set up a consortium of 10 state-run laboratories to sequence positive tests samples in December. However, between January and March the country has only studied 11,064 of its samples, the ministry of health said at a briefing on March 30, which is less than 0.6% over that period.

India doesn’t have enough data on the new variants to explain the steep, nine-fold jump in infections from around 11,000 daily new cases in early February, said Bhramar Mukherjee, a professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan. “We are essentially reverse engineering to explain the features of the virus curve as we do not have credible data on variants of concern and genomic surveillance,” Mukherjee said. “The more you let the infection spread the more chances of the virus mutating.”

April 8, 2021 0 comment

Videos

Variants are bound to come back! Watch this exclusive interview with Dr Gangakhedkar

by Medically Speaking Team April 1, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

April 1, 2021 0 comment

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The Danger of Double Mutant Virus by Dr Rakesh Mishra, Dr Dhiren Gupta

by Medically Speaking Team March 27, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

Discussion about double mutant variant. So what exactly is double mutant variant for this we have on our panel Dr. Rakesh Mishra who is a director of CSIR-CCMB labs.

What exactly is double mutant variant and how it going to affect us in future?

Dr. Rakesh Mishra- Double mutant variant as the name suggests has two changes in its genome one L is converted into R at 452 position and in one E is converted Q at 484 position. So when these two mutation are together we calling it double mutant and what is observed that in cases that we have sequence genomes these two mutation are going together so that way its giving it signature to a new variant and particularly in Maharashtra about 20 % of the cases are due to this new variant as of now although in other states it’s not very prominent. It’s 1 or 2% or even less.

How it is going to affect and who is responsible for this mutant variant?

Dr. Rakesh Mishra- Responsible! Virus mutate in natural ways and if we allow the virus to spread then it will have more chance to mutate and only people are allowing it spread so people are responsible in that way but while this is natural process we should keep that also in mind, as far as problems are considered since even in Maharashtra where it is seen in highest proportion which is only 20 % that means 80% of the cases of Maharashtra are not because of this variant and other states we don’t see this variant so much. So this means this variant is not responsible for the recent rise in the cases something else is responsible which we can come in a minute, also we have not seen increased symptoms or mortality in fact more and more people are A symptomatic not more than 85% and mortality has decreased so which means we understand the disease better and proper care have been given by the doctor that’s why mortality is less and this also means that this variant is like other circulating variants is not more dangerous. So it not a fast spreader, it is not clinically more dangerous but whether it will be a problem for the vaccine or not that is something we have to confirm because there are only reports that both of these mutations can have immune escape behaviour so will which be a concern for the vaccine but if it was actually happening at least in our case we would have seen by now some re-infection cases which we have not seen so far so many be it is less data so we can’t conclude very much but early indications are that immunity acquired by prior infection and therefore by vaccination is protecting against this virus as if now so more data will be required. There are experimental ways of figuring that out which is to culture the virus in lab and see if the anti-bodies of vaccinated people or recovered people can neutralise this virus and that’s what we are doing and I am sure many labs are doing in the country. We have started culturing this is virus in coming weeks we’ll know if any protection of vaccine is compromised in this case but that will take little time. Early indications are that we need not to worry in that context here.

Does government requires more vaccines to control such mutant variants?

Dr. Rakesh Mishra- It is always good to have, see vaccine is a weapon against infection. The more weapon you have the better you are these vaccines have come as a emergency approval and within a year the vaccine is available which most of us thought will not be possible so that has happened that’s a remarkable achievement of the industry the scientist and also of our regulatory body who have gone so carefully and given these approvals and they have proven to be right because the vaccine is safe now more than 5 crore people have taken vaccine and they are doing well and vaccine in UK is reducing the infection significantly that observation has already been made so it is a very good tool more is better so because these vaccines are emergency approval we don’t understand full particularly long term effect of these vaccine or age group other medical conditions, how long they will protect, which variant which one will protect all those data will emerge only after post vaccination follow up which is happening in many countries including in our country and in coming months we will understand more about the utility of different vaccines. If someone is better for one vaccine, is better for younger people other is better for older people we don’t know today but we might understand it in coming months so therefore it is very good idea to have more vaccines. We should have 6, 10 vaccines so that we ensure that pandemic is controlled and we don’t get into more problems in the future and not only that in fact we should try and vaccinate at very high rate largest number of people possible so we have enough doses we should before virus recovers and makes more variants we can eliminate the virus by vaccinating large number of people. So that is a good strategy to follow and while we do all this whether vaccination or no vaccination the covid appropriate behaviour is the most important most crucial point today. So even if we are vaccinated it will take month, month and a half to get full effect of the vaccine and the vaccine does not mean that you will not get infected it means that we will not get very sick then you make not require to go to the hospital and the lives will be saved. But virus may still hang around so therefore most import thing is to wear mask avoid clustering and do hand hygiene that if you do carefully if all of us practice this no other which variant it is we can take care of because variant cannot penetrate the mask or trouble more than few metres to go an infect unless we are clustered in a hall and infected people are spreading there.

How such mutant takes place?

Dr. Rakesh Mishra- So mutation is a natural process of these viruses like is common flu we see every year we get cough and cold may twice thrice so is the same virus but once it comes our system fights it and within a week or 10 days we get rid of it but after few months it changes it coat and comes back and infects again so it is the same thing happening with corona virus. Covid 19 virus as well it keeps changing it is very natural in fact all of us you and I are different because our insisters have some mutant which we have been inherited that’s why we look different all of have genomic chances they are originated with mutation at some point or the other and mutation if they are good for species then they persist and if they are bad then we perish similarly in virus if the mutation is bad it will be that particular virus will die and if the virus is in mutation in advantages for the virus it will adopt better and will spread more. So it is a natural process of all the living being that’s why we see variety in life.

Do you think in future it can be deadliest also if people will not take care of especially by not following the guidelines?

Dr. Rakesh Mishra- Absolutely, if we let like lakhs and lakhs of people are infected and virus is having a good time spreading all over so it will generate more variant there is no doubt about that and maybe we are lucky that the double mutant is not very dangerous at this moment but in future over this platform of double mutant all independently some other variant may emerge that may be more infectious that may not respect vaccination that may cause more mortality all those things are possible therefore get rid of this infection at large extent better we are otherwise failed at every point so our contribution is very important i.e. mask social distancing and hygiene in defeating this virus.

March 27, 2021 0 comment