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Mpox Mutation Sparks Global Alarm: Are We Facing the Next Pandemic?
Scitech Daily ^ | April 01, 2025 | University of Surrey

Posted on 04/01/2025 4:28:38 AM PDT by Red Badger

Mpox is shifting from an animal-borne virus to one that spreads easily between people, raising global concerns. Mutations may be helping it adapt, making it harder to control. Credit: NIAID/NIH

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Mpox, once a rare virus mainly confined to parts of Central Africa, is rapidly evolving into a more serious global health threat. Scientists are alarmed by its growing ability to spread from person to person, a shift from its traditional animal-to-human transmission.

Genetic mutations are helping the virus adapt to human hosts, potentially increasing its severity. Outbreaks are now happening worldwide, and vulnerable populations like children could be at heightened risk. Experts are calling for urgent investment in testing, treatments, and surveillance to prevent future epidemics, warning that without action, mpox may become a persistent global menace.

Mpox: A Growing Global Concern

Mpox could become a serious global health threat if it’s not taken seriously, warn scientists from the University of Surrey.

In a letter published today (April 1) in Nature Medicine, researchers note that while mpox has traditionally spread from animals to humans, it is now showing clear evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

A Dangerous Relative of Smallpox

Mpox is a viral infection related to smallpox. It can cause symptoms such as a painful rash, fever, and swollen glands. In some cases, it can lead to more severe illness. The virus typically spreads through close contact with an infected person or animal.

Carlos Maluquer de Motes, Reader in Molecular Virology at the University of Surrey, explained:

“The most recent outbreaks show that intimate contact is now a significant way the virus spreads. That shift in how it’s transmitted is leading to longer transmission chains and lasting outbreaks.”

Mutations May Be Helping Mpox Adapt

The article notes that this change coincided with the rapid spread of clade IIb (a clade is a group of viruses that share a common ancestor) mpox viruses, but different clade I variants are now on the rise too. Researchers are also concerned because clade I viruses are thought to be more aggressive. These viruses appear to be accumulating specific genetic mutations – driven by enzymes in the human body – that may be changing viral properties, so the longer these viruses circulate amongst us, the higher the chances these mutations help mpox adapt to humans.

Although mpox was once mainly seen in Central Africa, the virus caused an outbreak worldwide in 2022 and is now causing outbreaks in multiple sub-Saharan countries. While it currently affects adults the most, the researchers stress that it has the potential to spread among other groups, including children, a group at greater risk of serious illness – although sustained transmission in children has not yet been reported.

Limited Tools to Fight Mpox

Dr. Maluquer de Motes added:

“Mpox control has to climb up the global health agenda. We have limited diagnostic tools and even fewer antiviral treatments. We urgently need better surveillance and local or regional capacity to produce what we need – otherwise, we are at risk of future epidemics.”

Why Eradication Isn’t an Option Unlike smallpox, mpox has an animal reservoir, meaning it can’t be fully eradicated. The authors warn that unless international action is taken now – including investment in point-of-care testing and new treatments – mpox will continue to re-emerge and threaten global health.

Reference:

“Mpox poses an ever-increasing epidemic and pandemic risk”

1 April 2025, Nature Medicine.

DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-03589-8


TOPICS: Government; Health/Medicine; History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: fagpox
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1 posted on 04/01/2025 4:28:38 AM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

Pfizer and Moderna are hoping


2 posted on 04/01/2025 4:31:26 AM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: Red Badger

I will say this-with COVID, it wasn’t sufficiently virulent or deadly enough to produce the desired effect of cowing populations sufficiently enough.

The ChiComs won’t make that mistake again.


3 posted on 04/01/2025 4:31:54 AM PDT by rlmorel ("A people that elect corrupt politicians are not victims...but accomplices." George Orwell)
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To: Red Badger

It’s like AIDS. Maybe if homos could keep it in their pants and not stick their dick in every mud hole, they wouldn’t get the latest designer virus.

Do homos realize that they are always the testing ground for gain of function?


4 posted on 04/01/2025 4:35:01 AM PDT by HYPOCRACY (Long live The Great MAGA Kangz!)
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To: HYPOCRACY

Hey just don’t try to stop some of it by preaching to the public

You’ll get attacked by demonic sprits

👿👿👿

Apparently we’re just supposed to
stand around and watch while the world 🌏🌍
goes to Hell; in large part thanks to
Democrats perverting America

(this part of the world that is)

And then there was USAID...


5 posted on 04/01/2025 4:40:26 AM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: HYPOCRACY

Stop shagging the exit hole.


6 posted on 04/01/2025 4:44:13 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: Red Badger

Here we go again.


7 posted on 04/01/2025 4:45:45 AM PDT by spincaster (ifi)
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To: Red Badger

It’s a thing among the wanton.


8 posted on 04/01/2025 4:47:53 AM PDT by lurk (u)
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To: HYPOCRACY

There are some things God didn’t design the human body to do.

EC


9 posted on 04/01/2025 4:50:18 AM PDT by Ex-Con777
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To: spincaster

I certainly hope not

now that a different person is at HHS


10 posted on 04/01/2025 4:54:48 AM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: Red Badger

I still have my bird flu decorations up.


11 posted on 04/01/2025 5:00:39 AM PDT by dynachrome (Auslander Raus!)
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To: Red Badger

Monkey pox: Another scourge brought to us by the kind and loving homosexuals that are above criticism.


12 posted on 04/01/2025 5:11:11 AM PDT by bk1000 (Banned from Breitbart)
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To: dynachrome

That’s soooo last week!


13 posted on 04/01/2025 5:13:28 AM PDT by null and void (Americans are a people increasingly separated by our connectivity. H/T MortMan)
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To: Red Badger

“vulnerable populations like children“

What an odd thing to say.


14 posted on 04/01/2025 5:20:07 AM PDT by packagingguy
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To: packagingguy

Children who are boinked by older men...


15 posted on 04/01/2025 5:22:16 AM PDT by null and void (Americans are a people increasingly separated by our connectivity. H/T MortMan)
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To: Red Badger
Prosecute for developing, making, storing, and deploying bioweapons. The laws are clear and well established. Federal and international.

Just because these monsters use the euphemism "gain of function research" doesn't make it any less illegal and any less the crime against humanity that this is (and Covid was).

Indict, convict, execute. Stop this insane bioweapons development with the cute name.

Congress, Bondi, Trump, do something!

16 posted on 04/01/2025 5:25:30 AM PDT by caddie (We all need to become Trump and become Captain Obvious too.)
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To: Red Badger

A good way to stop the spread is to not engage in activities which spread it. Now we have Candida Auris(a potentially fatal fungus difficult to treat) , a mutating Monkey Pox, still have HPV, HIV..Is the human race slowly extinguishing itself?
I guess everyone got lazy, thinking modern medicine was gonna’ knock out all contagion, and microorganism induced diseases. A colossal mistake.


17 posted on 04/01/2025 6:14:32 AM PDT by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and harder to find. )
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To: SaveFerris

From the article: “ We urgently need better surveillance and local or regional capacity to produce what we need….”
———-
A call for more lockdowns, economy shutdowns, but most importantly more of the harmful and ineffective ( deadly in some cases) MRNA shots.

Don’t buy into it, 250 million plus Americans were tricked the last “ pandemic “.
Not this time.


18 posted on 04/01/2025 6:20:36 AM PDT by delta7
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To: delta7

Pfizer and Moderna are hoping


19 posted on 04/01/2025 6:38:44 AM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: dynachrome

Haha...my first laugh of the day


20 posted on 04/01/2025 7:08:19 AM PDT by goodnesswins (Democracy to Democrats is stealing other peoples money for their use, no matter how idiotic)
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