Hundreds of people have died from the current mpox outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a global health emergency.
This deadly disease, which was previously called monkeypox, has caused at least 450 deaths during its initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the BBC.
Mpox spreads easily through close contact, including through sex, touching skin, or even talking or breathing near another person. It causes flu-like symptoms and skin sores, and in some cases, it can be deadly.
The BBC reports that about four out of every 100 people infected with mpox could die from it. The WHO is particularly concerned because the disease is spreading quickly in central and east Africa, and a new version of the virus is causing an even higher death rate.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the rapid spread within Africa and potentially beyond is “very worrying.”
He emphasized that a coordinated global effort is needed to stop the outbreak and save lives, as mentioned by the BBC.
There are two main types of mpox: Clade 1 and Clade 2. The 2022 outbreak was caused by the milder Clade 2, which spread to nearly 100 countries, including parts of Europe and Asia.
However, this new outbreak is being driven by the more deadly Clade 1, which has killed up to 10% of those infected in previous outbreaks, as reported by the BBC.
In September of last year, the virus mutated, creating a new variant called Clade 1b. Scientists are calling it “the most dangerous yet,” according to the BBC.
Since the beginning of this year, over 13,700 mpox cases have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with at least 450 deaths. The disease has also spread to other African countries, including Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda, the BBC reports.
Health experts hope that declaring this a global health emergency will speed up research, funding, and the implementation of international health measures.
Dr. Josie Golding from the Wellcome Trust and Dr. Boghuma Titanji from Emory University both agree that this announcement sends a strong signal about the seriousness of the situation.
However, Professor Trudie Lang from the University of Oxford warned that the emergence of the new variant means there are still many unknowns, as highlighted by the BBC.
To avoid a repeat of the 2022 outbreak, which mainly affected men who have sex with men, scientists are urging swift action, including vaccinations and public health measures, to prevent further spread.
The BBC also notes that leaders from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have called for urgent steps to control the outbreak, with the head of the organization, Jean Kaseya, warning that this could get out of hand if not addressed immediately.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg35w27gzno