The-Artist-Formerly-Known-As-Monkeypox: A Review of Mpox and its Variants

Mpox (the-artist-formerly-known-as-Monkeypox) is back in the news with another public health emergency of international concern. 

In the summer of 2022—which feels like four decades ago at this point—Mpox took the nation by storm. It was definitely a mixed-bag summer: Beyoncé dropped Renaissance; the Supreme Court repealed Roe v. Wade; Yale researchers did necromancy on a pig; and Mpox ran rampant across the globe. (Author’s note: I struggled to find more good things that happened this summer; if you have one to contribute, I’d love to hear it). Two years later, we’re getting an update (not Renaissance visuals, just more Mpox). 

Mpox is a virus that is closely related to smallpox, a disease that devastated humanity for thousands of years, killing 30% of those infected. Smallpox was considered officially eradicated in 1980. The close relationship between these viruses is the reason we can use the smallpox vaccine to protect against mpox. While mpox isn’t as deadly as smallpox, it can be fatal. Mpox’s fatality rate has been estimated around 6–10%, with most deaths (67%) targeting children aged 15 of younger. Even its less serious variants can still be excruciatingly painful. Because Mpox is a virus and not a bacteria, post-coital interventions like DoxyPep won’t keep you from contracting it. Vaccines, however, can reduce your risk of contracting Mpox by up to 85%. 

Mpox is still in the news (and still causing newsworthy outbreaks) due to its ability to mutate. Viruses are tricky; they mutate all the time as they duplicate and spread. When a virus undergoes a drastic mutation (and that mutation is more effective, sustainable, biologically advantageous than the previous version), you get a new variant of the virus or even a whole new virus with different properties, symptoms, strengths and weaknesses. 

Mpox has two distinct variants, called “Clades,” which is fancy biology-speak for “relative,” or “common origin.” Clade II Mpox was the variant responsible for the 2022 pandemic. Clade I Mpox is what we’re dealing with right now. In this article, we’ll guide you through the variants and their implications for your health. 

 

Clade I Mpox

Clade I Mpox causes more severe illness than its sibling variant. The symptoms include flu-like symptoms, and the resulting rash can cover the majority of the infected person’s body. This variant can be spread through sexual and nonsexual contact alike. Clade I Mpox—the variant cited in the WHO’s latest emergency declaration—is thought to be deadlier, with an estimated fatality rate of 6–10% for those infected. Clade I is thought to be mutating, and its new variant (Clade Ib) is thought to be faster-spreading and at the root of this new outbreak. While Clade I is primarily spread by contact with diseased animals, family members, or objects, Clade Ib may be more similar to Clade II and more highly communicable by intimate human-to-human contact.

 

Clade II Mpox

This clade has a lower fatality rate, closer to 1–4%. of those infected survived the virus. Clade II is primarily spread via sexual contact and can cause a less substantial rash than its sibling variant. Half of the reported infections of Clade I have been young children, but Clade II is more rarely seen in children, by comparison. Clade II is still seen in small outbreaks, but is not currently considered an emergency like Clade I. 

While viruses (much like Beyoncé) will never stop reinventing themselves, these mutations don’t happen over night. The more individuals infected with a virus, the higher the likelihood of a new variant popping up. With the (reported) outbreaks being relatively small at this stage, there is little threat of a new clade popping up and wreaking havoc on you or your loved ones any time soon. That being said, getting vaccinated if you haven’t already (both doses, people!) and keeping yourself informed is the best way to stay ahead of any grim surprises.