Africa Declares Public Health Emergency Against Smallpox Virus

A public health emergency has been declared due to the smallpox virus, which is spreading rapidly across Africa. The virus is highly contagious and since the beginning of the year, 461 people have died and more than 15,000 cases have been confirmed.

The emergency was declared because a new, more contagious variant of the virus has emerged. From January 2022 to the beginning of this month, about 39,000 cases of smallpox and 1456 deaths from the virus were recorded.

How is smallpox transmitted and what are the symptoms?

Until the last few years, smallpox was usually transmitted through human contact with rodents such as infected mice and squirrels. However, it is known that the virus can also be transmitted from person to person. The most important causes of transmission are touching the skin of someone infected with the virus, using items such as clothes, sheets, towels and contact with body fluids.

In people infected with smallpox virus, the first symptoms can appear between 5 days and 21 days. The disease caused by the virus causes fever, muscle aches and a rash on the skin with small blisters filled with water, similar to chickenpox. There is currently no specific treatment for the disease; antiviral drugs are used in treatment.

Smallpox Virus Variants and Effects

First seen in humans in Congo in 1970, there are two variants of the virus currently in circulation: Clad 1 and Clad 2. The Clad 1 variant of the pox, which has been seen in and around Congo for years, is more deadly, while the Clad 2 variant of the virus has a milder course and is seen in parts of West Africa.

The more deadly Clad 1 variant, which caused a state of emergency in Africa, was first seen among sex workers in Congo in 2023. The Clad 1 variant is mostly transmitted through sexual contact; however, there are also cases among children who play together at school without sexual contact. The mortality rate in Clad 1 variant cases is 3.6%.

While there was a 79% increase in smallpox cases between 2022-2023, this rate jumped to 1660% in 2023-2024.

Vaccination and Prevention Methods

There is a vaccine available to protect against smallpox, but it is currently only administered to those at risk and contacts. Two doses of the vaccine are required to protect against the virus, but the vaccine, which costs $100 for a single dose, is difficult to access in poor African countries.

So far, 18 countries have been infected with the smallpox virus. According to the World Health Organization, by 2022, it is also possible that it can be transmitted from person to person, known as smallpox. Touching the skin of a person infected with the virus, using items such as clothes, sheets, towels and contact with body fluids are among the most important ways of spreading the virus.

In people infected with smallpox virus, the first symptoms can appear between 5 days and 21 days. The disease caused by the virus causes fever, muscle aches and a chickenpox-like rash of small water-filled blisters on the skin. There is currently no specific treatment for the disease and antiviral drugs are used for treatment.

Variants of the smallpox virus and the situation in Africa

The virus, which was first seen in humans in Congo in 1970, currently has two circulating variants: Clad 1 and Clad 2. The variant of the pox known as “Clad 1”, which has been seen in and around Congo for years, is more deadly, while the “Clad 2” variant of the virus is milder and has been seen in parts of West Africa.

The more deadly Clad 1 variant, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Africa, was first seen among sex workers in Congo in 2023. Although the Clad 1 variant is mostly transmitted through sexual contact, cases have also been observed among children playing together at school without sexual contact. The mortality rate for Clad 1 variant cases is 3.6%.

While there was a 79% increase in smallpox cases between 2022 and 2023, this increase skyrocketed to 1660% between 2023 and 2024.

Prevention and Vaccination Status

There is a vaccine available to protect against smallpox, but it is currently only administered to those at risk and contacts. Two doses of the vaccine are required to protect against the virus, but the vaccine, which costs $100 for a single dose, is difficult to access in poor African countries. So far, smallpox has been detected in 18 countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) changed the name of the virus, known as “smallpox” until 2022, to “empo” due to concerns that it could cause discrimination and racism.