Risk Management and Healthcare Policy (Feb 2024)
A Review of Mpox Outbreak and Public Health Response in Spain
Abstract
Daniel Cuetos-Suárez,1,2 Rick Kye Gan,1 David Cuetos-Suárez,3 Pedro Arcos González,1 Rafael Castro-Delgado4,5 1Unit for Research in Emergency and Disaster, Public Health Area, Department of Medicine, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; 2Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; 3Emergency Medicine Department, Spanish Central Defense Academy, Madrid, Spain; 4Health Service Principality of Asturias (SAMU-Asturias), Health Research Institute of Asturias, ISPA (Prehospital Care and Disasters Research Group, GIAPREDE) Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; 5Department of Medicine, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Asturias, SpainCorrespondence: Rafael Castro-Delgado; Daniel Cuetos Suárez, Department of Medicine, University of Oviedo, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Julián Clavería, 6, Oviedo, 33006, Spain, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: In May 2022, an unprecedented Mpox outbreak was reported in several non-endemic countries with unknown epidemiological links. Since May 2022, more than 20,000 cases have been reported in Europe. Spain has been the most affected country in Europe. We aim to describe the Mpox epidemiological profile in Spain, identify its outbreak risks, and describe public health interventions implemented by the Spanish authorities.Methods: A literature review was conducted, using specific selection criteria to obtain relevant publications describing Mpox clinical presentation and risk factors and the public health response in Spain to the ongoing outbreak.Results: 63.1% of the cases presented an anogenital rash, considered a specific and early symptom in this outbreak. Low case fatality rate is observed, mainly in risk groups, such as the immunocompromised population. Patients evolution was generally favorable, although 3– 8% required hospitalization and two deaths occurred; 40% of patients were previously diagnosed with HIV infection. Most of the cases were seen among young population and concentrated in men who had sex with other men, mainly with multiple sexual partners, who did not practice safe sex such as using condoms, and those attending mass event parties.Conclusion: To date, the Mpox outbreak is not considered a public health emergency of international concern. The epidemiological trend of the virus in Spain shows that public health response interventions (health education, contact tracing, vaccination, etc.) have adequately controlled the epidemic curve in high-risk populations and avoided spreading the virus to other groups within the community.Keywords: Mpox outbreak, Spain, public health response interventions, public health emergency of international concern
