August 14, 2024 – The World Health Organization declared this on Wednesday MPOX virus a worldwide health emergency as a consequence of a worsening outbreak within the Democratic Republic of Congo and other parts of Africa.
At an emergency meeting of the MPOX Committee, the WHO declared the MPOX outbreak a public health emergency of international concernwhat the organization describes as “an extraordinary event that poses a risk to the public health of other states through the international spread of disease and may require a coordinated international response.”
The announcement comes amid a latest and more dangerous strain of the Mpox virus, called clade Ib, that has been identified in Congo. According to WHO and other health experts, this strain is more worrisome since it spreads more easily and is more serious. Unlike previous strains that spread primarily through sexual contact, particularly amongst men who've sex with men, this latest variant can spread more easily through close skin-to-skin contact, including inside families and amongst children. Recently, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared mpox a Public health emergencynoting that there have been over 17,000 documented cases and 500 deaths in 13 African countries for the reason that starting of the 12 months. An estimated 96% of all cases and deaths are in Congo, in line with the Associated Press reported.
The declaration marks the second time in two years that the WHO has declared MPox a worldwide health emergency, most recently in July 2022. At that point, the declaration was in response to the rapid spread of MPox outside its traditional endemic areas in Central and West Africa. The outbreak had spread to several countries, particularly in Europe and North America, with most cases reported in men who had sex with men.
Mpox is a highly contagious disease from the identical family of viruses that causes smallpox. It could be spread very easily between people, especially through bodily fluids and things like kissing, sex, or touching infected areas. after to the CDC. The virus also can spread through air droplets or through objects which have come into contact with infected body fluids, akin to bedsheets. Mpox will also be spread from animals to people, especially if an infected animal bites or scratches you.
People with MPOX normally develop a painful rash across the genitals, anus, or other areas of the body. The rash often forms blisters or crusts before it heals. Some people also experience fever or flu-like symptoms. Historically, individuals with weakened immune systems, young children, pregnant women, older adults and unvaccinated individuals are most liable to becoming seriously unwell or dying from the virus.
“Mpox has now crossed borders and affected thousands across our continent, families have been torn apart and the pain and suffering has touched every corner of our continent,” said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa CDC, during an internet media event briefing. “This declaration is not just a formality, it is a call to action. It is a recognition that we can no longer afford to react reactively. We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat.”
Although there's a vaccine against Mpox, the African continent has very limited access to doses. Kaseya stated that there's a plan to secure 3 million doses of the MPOX vaccine by the top of the 12 months.