WHO warns of spread of mpox as five cases recorded in Ireland in 2024

Mpox is a viral infection that spreads from person to person through very close contact.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a new warning about the continued spread of mpox, which has seen five cases in Ireland this year.

Across the whole of June, a total of 934 new laboratory-confirmed cases of the disease formerly known as monkeypox — including two in Ireland — and four deaths were reported to WHO from 26 countries.

The organisation notes the current data most likely underestimates the actual number of mpox cases due to a fall in the rate of countries reporting their figures to the WHO.

In June, 16 of 26 (62%) reporting countries showed an increase in cases compared to May 2024. 

The Democratic Republic of the Congo reported the highest relative increase in the African region, while Spain reported the highest increase in the European region.

Mpox, which was classed as a public health emergency in July 2022, saw a rise in outbreaks at the beginning of that year.

It is a viral infection that spreads from person to person through very close contact.

Most cases have been found in men who are gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men. 

The most common symptom is any rash (88.5% of cases), followed by fever (57.9%), and systemic rash or genital rash (54.8% and 49.5% respectively), according to the WHO.

It usually takes between five and 21 days for the first symptoms to appear.

The rash starts as raised spots, which turn into small blisters filled with fluid. These blisters eventually form scabs which later fall off.

There is no specific medicine available to cure mpox.

Since January 1, 2022, the five countries to have recorded the most cases are the US (33,191), Brazil (11,212), Spain (8,084), France (4,272) and Colombia (4,249)

In total, since the first case of mpox was recorded in Ireland on May 31, 2022, there have been 249 cases.

Ireland recorded its first case of 2024 in February, with one case in both April and June.

Last month, there were two more cases confirmed, bringing up the total of the year so far to five cases.

There have been two cases in those aged 30 to 34, with one case each in the 40-44, 50-59 and 60+ age groups.

Last December, the HSE paused the mpox vaccination programme indefinitely.