★ AEPap believes it is necessary to allocate the necessary vaccines to African countries affected by the Mpox epidemic.

Given the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (ESPII) declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the Mpox (formerly “monkeypox”) epidemic in Africa, the Spanish Association of Primary Care Pediatricians (AEPap) considers it necessary to allocate the necessary vaccines to African countries suffering from this health crisis. Primary care pediatricians are concerned about the increase in cases among boys and girls in these countries.

A new variant of “Mpox 2024” has been identified in several in African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and has begun to spread to other continents, with one case reported in Sweden and another in Thailand. Health authorities are vigilant, although the risk to EU citizens is currently low.

Dr. Mayte de Aranzabal, Coordinator of the AEPap Collaboration Grouppoints out that, given the possible threat of the Mpox epidemic, “AEPap has taken a proactive stance to protect the child population through preventive and educational measures. But we also want to highlight the importance of supporting vaccination in Africa, both out of humanitarian duty and the need to stop the spread of the virus.”

Primary care paediatricians are particularly concerned about the increase in smallpox cases among boys and girls on the African continent. “This group is particularly vulnerable due to their developing immune systems and increased exposure in settings where close contact is common, such as schools and homes.”

Unlike the 2022 outbreak, explains Dr. Cristina Rodriguez of AEPap’s Infectious Diseases Group, these cases are affecting all age groups, with children being the most affected, as well as regions with high numbers of cases in the pediatric population. It is young children and people with weakened immune systems (such as those infected with HIV) who are at the highest risk of serious illness and death. The exact incidence of illness in children and adults in these regions is unknown, and there is uncertainty about the greater transmissibility, severity, or mortality of these new variants.

The mechanism of transmission of Mpox in humans is from person to person through close contact with skin lesions, biological fluids, airborne droplets, contaminated objects, through the placenta or sexually. In endemic areas, transmission through infected mammals, mainly rodents or primates, is possible.

Initial symptoms include fever, headache, malaise, fatigue, and later a rash with pustules appears on the face and limbs. Symptoms usually last two to four weeks.

There is no specific treatment for smallpox, although there are vaccines and some antiviral drugs against smallpox that can be administered.

Spain has a limited number of vaccine containers, so unless there is a change in the evolution of the epidemic, they will be used for contacts at risk after infection. AEPap President Dr. Pedro Gorrotxategui recalls that the vaccine “isIt is approved for use in adults and adolescents from 18 years of age due to the lack of specific data on its safety and effectiveness in minors. However, if necessary, it can be assessed individually and from a public health perspective.”

International cooperation: vaccination in Africa

The AEPap International Cooperation Group assures that “the situation in Africa, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is critical due to the lack of access to vaccines and the limited resources available to combat this epidemic. The international community, including WHO and GAVI (the Vaccine Alliance), is making every effort to distribute vaccines in these regions, but the available doses are far from sufficient.

“At AEPap, we believe it is our moral and humanitarian duty to provide African countries with all the doses they need to protect their populations. This is the right thing to do, and it is necessary to stop the global spread of Mpox. An uncontrolled epidemic in Africa could have devastating consequences that would eventually affect the rest of the world, including our own country. “Vaccination in Africa is a preventive measure that protects both the most vulnerable and the global community as a whole.”

Source: Berbes