United States: Monkeypox infections are now on the rise and along with that many infections recorded to be arising from the new fast spreading strain which has been identified in places that were not endemic.
Given that mpox has begun to spread, one can consider the first mpox diagnostic test as a glimmer of hope.
The World Health Organisation approved the emergency use of Abbott Laboratories’ mpox diagnostic test on Thursday. “The emergency use listing of the Anility Mpox MPXV assay produced by Abbott Molecular Inc will be instrumental in increasing diagnostic capability in mpox infected nations where diagnostic need has been growing due to emergency situations,” the world health organization has reported.
How does it work?
The detection of the virus establishes the monkeypox virus using Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT), including Real-time/Conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
For the diagnosis confirmation of MPXV in suspected cases, lesion material is advised and for the detection of mpox virus in human skin lesion swabs, it is very easy to use by the clinical laboratory personnel if they are expertise in PCR technique and IVD process.
As reported by The Times of India, the first mpox diagnostic test featured under the EU L procedure is a major step towards increasing testing capacity in the affected countries, said WHO Assistant Director General for AMHP Yukiko Nakatani.
“Promoting the availability of quality medical products is a critical focus area in helping countries to mitigate the disease and safeguard its population particularly in hard-to-reach areas.”
WHO had listed mpox as a threat to global health on 14 August. Putting out its sternest signal against this viral infection, the WHO had asked people to be safe. Despite the signs of mpox being mild most of the time, some individuals can get severe and critical and can even be life-threatening too.
So here are the children, pregnant people and the people with weak immune systems including the people living with HIV that is not well and controlled are at the higher risk of the serious and very severe illness and death due to the complications from the mpox said the WHO.