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The Group Discussion topics in top MBA colleges like IIMs, XLRI, MDI, FMS are more and more getting associated with current affairs and social issues. One of such GD topics that is making rounds in B-school admission process, class-1 and class-2 services recruitment process, is ‘Global Spread of Monkeypox’. The arguments forwarded for and against are many and the process of discussion brings new avenues of positive and negative impacts on whether the dreaded disease is as lethal as Covid and how to prevent it from spreading. Shared below is the solved GD topic, with the key facts and arguments on the Monkeypox.
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While the memory of dreaded Covid-19 epidemic which took toll of millions across the world is yet to subside, the fast global spread of a new virulent strain of the monkeypox virus across Africa has triggered the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a public health emergency of international concern.
But, before we know how to prevent and cure the humanity from the Monkey Pox disease, it is important to know what is it, where did it come from and how can the world deal with the threat. Is it as dreaded as was Covid-19 or the early spread of HIV infections?
What is mpox? From where it Originated
Earlier known as monkeypox, the viral disease on mpox can spread between people, mainly through close contact, and occasionally from the environment to people via objects and surfaces that have been touched by a person with mpox. It was originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970 but was neglected there. Now World Health Organization (WHO) has asked to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself.
MPOX was endemic in central and West Africa. Later the infectious disease caused a global outbreak in 2022, leading to a WHO public health emergency in July as it became a multi-country outbreak. Following a series of consultations with global experts, WHO has begun using a new preferred term “mpox” as a synonym for monkeypox.
How to Diagnose: What are Monkeypox symptoms
Common symptoms of mpox include a rash lasting for two to four weeks, which may be started with or followed by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes. The rash looks like blisters and can affect the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, groin, genital and/or anal regions, mouth, throat or the eyes. The number of sores can range from one to several thousand.
People with mpox are considered infectious at least until all their blisters have crusted over, the scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has formed underneath, and all lesions on the eyes and in the body have healed. Typically this takes two to four weeks. Reports show that people can be re-infected after they’ve had mpox. People with severe mpox may require hospitalisation, supportive care and antiviral medicines to reduce the severity of lesions and shorten time to recovery.
Spread of Mpox
Monkeypox can spread from human to human, human to animals, animals to human also.
Human to human: Touching, sex and talking or breathing close to someone with mpox can generate infectious respiratory particles, but more research is needed on how the virus spreads during outbreaks in different settings and conditions, says WHO. What scientists do know is that it is also possible for the virus to persist for some time on clothing, bedding, towels, objects, electronics and surfaces that have been touched by a person with mpox. Someone else who is in contact with these items may become infected without first washing their hands before touching their eyes, nose and mouth.
The virus can also spread during pregnancy to the fetus, during or after birth through skin-to-skin contact, or from a parent with mpox to an infant or child during close contact.
Although getting mpox from someone who is asymptomatic has been reported, there is still limited information on whether the virus can be transmitted from someone with the virus before they get symptoms or after their lesions have healed.
Humans to animals: Since many species of animals are known to be susceptible to the virus, there is the potential for spillback of the virus from humans to animals in different settings. People who have confirmed or suspected mpox should avoid close physical contact with animals, including such pets as cats, dogs, hamsters and gerbils, as well as livestock and wildlife.
Animals to humans: Someone who comes into physical contact with an animal which carries the virus, such as some species of monkey - or a terrestrial rodent like a tree squirrel - may also develop mpox. Such exposure can occur through bites or scratches, or during activities such as hunting, skinning, trapping or preparing a meal. The virus can also be caught through eating contaminated meat which is not cooked thoroughly.
How Fatal can be Mpox?
For a small minority. Between 0.1 per cent and 10 per cent of people who have become infected with mpox, have died. So, Monkeypox can be fatal also in certain cases. It is important to note that death rates in different settings may differ due to several factors, such as access to health care and underlying immunosuppression, including because of undiagnosed HIV or advanced HIV, according to the UN health agency.
In most cases, the symptoms of mpox go away on their own within a few weeks with supportive care, such as medication for pain or fever, but, in some people, the illness can be severe or lead to complications and eventual death. Newborn babies, children, people who are pregnant and people with underlying immune deficiencies - such as from advanced HIV - may be at higher risk of more serious mpox disease and death.
How can Mpox be prevented?
Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces or objects and cleaning your hands after touching surfaces or objects that may be contaminated can help prevent transmission of Monkeypox. The risk of getting Mpox from animals can be reduced by avoiding unprotected contact with wild animals, especially those that are sick or dead, including their meat and blood. In countries where animals carry the virus, any food containing animal parts or meat should be cooked thoroughly before eating.
How the Monkeypox can be Cured? Is there a Vaccine
The Vaccine to cure Monkeypox is available. The UN health agency recommends several vaccines for use against mpox. However, mass vaccination, which rolled out during the COVID-19 global pandemic, is not currently recommended. Many years of research have led to the development of newer and safer vaccines for the now eradicated disease smallpox. Some of these vaccines have been approved in various countries for use against Mpox. At present, WHO recommends use of MVA-BN or LC16 vaccines, or the ACAM2000 vaccine when the others are not available.
Only people who are at risk of exposure to Mpox should be considered for vaccination, according to WHO. Travellers who may be at risk based on an individual risk assessment with their healthcare provider, may wish to consider vaccination.
Spread of Monkeypox in India: How to Prevent?
Since 2022, a total of 30 cases were detected in India with the last case in March 2024. India reported the first case of monkeypox in July 2022. Globally since 2022, WHO has reported 99,176 cases and 208 deaths due to Monkeypox from 116 countries.
Although there have been cases of monkeypox recorded in India, there is still little chance of a significant outbreak. Unlike several other viral illnesses, monkeypox cannot be shared easily and instead needs close, continuous contact to spread. In order to stop the spread of the infection, effective containment strategies are essential. These include contact tracing, isolating confirmed cases, and raising public awareness.
India's healthcare system, continuous monitoring, and immunization programs can all work to stop the spread. But in order to stop cases from getting worse, especially in high-risk groups, care is necessary. The risk of a significant epidemic can be reduced with prompt medical intervention and routine surveillance.
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