Mpox vs Covid-19: Is there a difference?

Listen to Story The declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO) making mpox a global health emergency has brought it to the spotlight, triggering a high alert in many countries. With mpox spreading to over 116 countries, it may appear similar to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, a WHO official recently said that "mpox is not the new Covid" , which means that a pandemic like the Covid-19 is highly unlikely.

MPOX VS COVID-19 Mpox and Covid-19 are caused by different viruses, each belonging to distinct viral families with unique genetic compositions and characteristics. The mpox virus is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus, which also includes the variola virus responsible for smallpox. Mpox is a DNA virus with a double-stranded genome, which is relatively stable compared to RNA viruses.

This stability means that the mpox virus mutates at a slower rate , leading to fewer and more gradual changes in its strains over time. Mpox and Covid-19 are caused by different viruses, each belonging to distinct viral families. (Photo: Getty Images) Historically, two main strains of the mpox virus have been identified: the Central African (Congo Basin) strain (Clade 1b), which is more virulent and has a higher mortality rate, and the West African strain (Clade 2), which is less severe.

In contrast, Covid-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a member of the coronavirus family. This is an RNA virus, which means it is a single-stranded RNA genome that is more prone to mutations. The high mu.