New Delhi, April 17 -- The global outbreak of mpox in 2022-23 affected more than 100 countries and grabbed the attention of the scientific community. Research on mpox has intensified since.

The virus behind the outbreak, technically mpox clade IIb, is spread through close physical contact. During the 2022 outbreak it was found in both sperm and vaginal fluid for the first time. This suggests it is sexually transmissible.

Overall, deaths in the 2022 outbreak were very low: 0.1 per cent. However, in people with very weak immune systems - such as those with advanced HIV - deaths were much higher, at around 15 per cent.

The outbreak was curtailed through public health agencies and doctors working in partnership with those most at risk of t...