Opinion: To stop mpox from becoming the next pandemic, we must address global vaccine inequities
In early 2022, I cared for one of the first patients with mpox in Massachusetts. As an infectious diseases physician, I remember the deep uncertainty I felt, and the fear in my patient’s eyes as a painful rash spread over their body. We were in uncharted territory — there were no proven treatments, and the number of cases was rapidly increasing. We decided to use tecovirimat (TPOXX), an antiviral developed for smallpox, to slow the disease’s progression. When patients began to recover, it felt like a breakthrough — a moment of hope in the midst of yet another epidemic.
Fast-forward to today, and we face a new challenge. Recently, the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern due to a rapidly expanding mpox outbreak in Central Africa. Soon after, cases were confirmed in Sweden and Thailand, signaling potential international spread.
