MPox: a minor epidemic waiting in the wings

 Science alert reports that MPox has infected 100 thousand people, but few (203) have died.

summary so far:

Firstly, mpox is now readily spreading from person to person although scientists are not entirely sure why.

well, traditionally the way animal pox spreads is via small lacerations in contact with a lesion. Such as cowpox on the hands of milkmaids. Or in this case, spread in raves via anal sex which is notorious for causing minor abrasions etc. but of course, it will spread in families via close contact (especially in poor countries where dry skin causes minor cracks in the skin, or to babies whose skin is thin.

indeed, the article states: While animal to human transmission can occur, the recent healthcare messages have focused on high-risk groups such as sex workers and men who have sex with men, two groups that have been disproportionately affected by the recent outbreak.

so shut down the raves and bathhouses. Oh no: that has been a no no since the 1980s when Diane Feinstein as mayor of San Francisco tried to do this to stem an epidemic of HepB and syphilis, but faced a recall election so changed her mind. Ironically, if she had done that, the HIV epidemic would not have spread so quickly in the USA.

but now the bad news:

Secondly, because of this sustained transmission, it is also mutating faster and two sub-clades (side branches) called clade Ib and IIb have been discovered.

ah but don't worry. Our scientists are busy mutating the virus via gain in function research so they will be prepared for the next epidemic by making a vaccine faster. those evil Republicans are complaining about this, but hey what could go wrong?

that article notes:

The gain-of-function project proposed by NIAID virologist Bernard Moss would splice genes conferring high pathogenicity from the clade I virus into the more transmissible clade II virus. The new “chimeric” (combined) virus could have retained up to a 15 percent fatality rate and a 2.4 reproductive number, a measure of transmissibility indicating every sick person could infect up to 2.4 people on average, giving it pandemic potential.

back to original article 

Thirdly, there is no licensed, mpox-specific vaccine to prevent infection, nor are there specific antiviral drugs available to treat clinically vulnerable people who can get very ill and die with the virus.

not quite true. Actually there is an unlicensed vaccineunlicensed vaccine that works fairly well to stop MPox, and that vaccine was being given out in the gay community, and there is an unlicense medicine that might work.