World Health Organization ,Who) announced on Wednesday that due to increasing infections Mpox In Africa A global health emergency has been declared, warning that Virus It could also potentially spread across international borders.
The announcement was made by World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus following a meeting of the UN health agency’s emergency committee, just a day after the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention classified ampox as a public health emergency on the continent.
What is Mpox?
Scientists first discovered ampox (formerly known as monkeypox) in 1958, when they observed an outbreak of a “pox-like” disease in monkeys. Before recent incidents, most human Affairs The disease spread across central and western Africa, and mainly affected people who were in close contact with infected animals.
In 2022, the virus is confirmed to spread gender This was the first time and it led to outbreaks in more than 70 countries around the world where ampox had not been reported previously.
Ampox is a member of the same viral family as smallpox, but it typically causes less severe symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches. In more severe cases, individuals may develop lesions on various parts of their body, such as the face, arms, chest, and genitals.
Where was it first discovered?
The WHO has announced that a viral disease called ampox has been detected for the first time in four East African countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, the AP reported.
According to the organization, these outbreaks were linked to the ongoing epidemic in Congo. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern about the possibility of the disease spreading to Africa and other regions.
In a separate development, health officials in Ivory Coast and South Africa have reported outbreaks of a different type of ampox, considered less severe than the one that caused the global pandemic. Outbreak Approximately 100,000 people will be infected worldwide in 2022.
What is the global threat?
The new ampox variant found in Congo has the potential to spread internationally, as is the case with other infectious diseases. Cases of this variant have already been reported in four additional East African countries.
Authorities described the risk to the general population as “very low” and anticipated that occasional imported cases would continue.
Unlike COVID-19 or measles, ampox is not spread through the air and usually requires close skin-to-skin contact to spread.
First case in Sweden
Sweden has confirmed its first case of ampox, a viral infection that spreads through close contact. It comes after the World Health Organization declared ampox a global public health emergency after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to other countries.
Minister of Health and Social Affairs Jakob Forsmed announced the confirmation on Thursday afternoon. This is Sweden’s first encounter with the more severe type of ampox, known as Clade I.
What does an emergency declaration mean?
The WHO’s declaration of an emergency is intended to mobilise support from nations and philanthropic organisations. However, global responses to previous declarations have been inconsistent.
Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya said the agency’s declaration of a public health emergency is intended to “mobilize our institutions, our collective will and our resources to act swiftly and decisively.” He called for assistance from Africa’s global partners and said the deteriorating situation in Africa has been largely ignored.
How the current outbreak is different from the 2022 pandemic
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group, in collaboration with the AP, reported that during the global outbreak of ampox in 2022, gay and bisexual men accounted for the majority of cases and the virus was mostly spread through close contact, including sex.
In 2022, a worldwide outbreak of ampox affected primarily gay and bisexual men, with the virus spreading primarily through close contact, including sexual activity.
However, the situation is different in Africa, particularly in Congo. Children under the age of 15 account for more than 70% of cases of ampox and 85% of deaths in the country.
Greg Ramm, Congo director for Save the Children, expressed concern about the possible spread of ampox in overcrowded refugee camps “crammed into tents in unhygienic conditions”. He said the country’s health system was already “collapsing” under the pressure of malnutrition, measles and cholera.
What is happening in Africa?
According to the World Health Organization, this year there have been more than 14,000 cases of ampox in Africa and 524 deaths, which is higher than last year’s figures.
So far, more than 96% of cases and deaths have been reported in Congo. Researchers are concerned about the emergence of a new variant of the disease in Congo, which may be more likely to transmit between individuals.
The Africa CDC has reported a significant increase in cases of ampox across the continent. Compared to the same period last year, the number of cases has increased by 160%, and the death rate has increased by 19%. This year scientists have reported the emergence of a new form of ampox in a mining town in Congo, which can kill up to 10 percent of people, the AP reported.
How can this be prevented?
The 2022 ampox outbreak, which affected several countries, was controlled mainly in rich countries through the use of vaccines and treatments, as well as encouraging people to avoid high-risk behaviors. However, these resources are rarely available in Africa.
According to Marks, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, vaccinations including those against smallpox, a related virus, would likely be beneficial. “We need large supplies of the vaccine so we can vaccinate the most at-risk populations,” he said, clarifying that this would include sex workers as well as children and adults living in areas affected by the outbreak, according to the AP report.
The Congolese government has requested 4 million doses, mainly for young children, but Chris Kasita Osako, coordinator of Congo’s monkeypox response committee, said no doses had yet been received.
(with inputs from agencies)
The announcement was made by World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus following a meeting of the UN health agency’s emergency committee, just a day after the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention classified ampox as a public health emergency on the continent.
What is Mpox?
Scientists first discovered ampox (formerly known as monkeypox) in 1958, when they observed an outbreak of a “pox-like” disease in monkeys. Before recent incidents, most human Affairs The disease spread across central and western Africa, and mainly affected people who were in close contact with infected animals.
In 2022, the virus is confirmed to spread gender This was the first time and it led to outbreaks in more than 70 countries around the world where ampox had not been reported previously.
Ampox is a member of the same viral family as smallpox, but it typically causes less severe symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches. In more severe cases, individuals may develop lesions on various parts of their body, such as the face, arms, chest, and genitals.
Where was it first discovered?
The WHO has announced that a viral disease called ampox has been detected for the first time in four East African countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, the AP reported.
According to the organization, these outbreaks were linked to the ongoing epidemic in Congo. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern about the possibility of the disease spreading to Africa and other regions.
In a separate development, health officials in Ivory Coast and South Africa have reported outbreaks of a different type of ampox, considered less severe than the one that caused the global pandemic. Outbreak Approximately 100,000 people will be infected worldwide in 2022.
What is the global threat?
The new ampox variant found in Congo has the potential to spread internationally, as is the case with other infectious diseases. Cases of this variant have already been reported in four additional East African countries.
Authorities described the risk to the general population as “very low” and anticipated that occasional imported cases would continue.
Unlike COVID-19 or measles, ampox is not spread through the air and usually requires close skin-to-skin contact to spread.
First case in Sweden
Sweden has confirmed its first case of ampox, a viral infection that spreads through close contact. It comes after the World Health Organization declared ampox a global public health emergency after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to other countries.
Minister of Health and Social Affairs Jakob Forsmed announced the confirmation on Thursday afternoon. This is Sweden’s first encounter with the more severe type of ampox, known as Clade I.
What does an emergency declaration mean?
The WHO’s declaration of an emergency is intended to mobilise support from nations and philanthropic organisations. However, global responses to previous declarations have been inconsistent.
Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya said the agency’s declaration of a public health emergency is intended to “mobilize our institutions, our collective will and our resources to act swiftly and decisively.” He called for assistance from Africa’s global partners and said the deteriorating situation in Africa has been largely ignored.
How the current outbreak is different from the 2022 pandemic
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group, in collaboration with the AP, reported that during the global outbreak of ampox in 2022, gay and bisexual men accounted for the majority of cases and the virus was mostly spread through close contact, including sex.
In 2022, a worldwide outbreak of ampox affected primarily gay and bisexual men, with the virus spreading primarily through close contact, including sexual activity.
However, the situation is different in Africa, particularly in Congo. Children under the age of 15 account for more than 70% of cases of ampox and 85% of deaths in the country.
Greg Ramm, Congo director for Save the Children, expressed concern about the possible spread of ampox in overcrowded refugee camps “crammed into tents in unhygienic conditions”. He said the country’s health system was already “collapsing” under the pressure of malnutrition, measles and cholera.
What is happening in Africa?
According to the World Health Organization, this year there have been more than 14,000 cases of ampox in Africa and 524 deaths, which is higher than last year’s figures.
So far, more than 96% of cases and deaths have been reported in Congo. Researchers are concerned about the emergence of a new variant of the disease in Congo, which may be more likely to transmit between individuals.
The Africa CDC has reported a significant increase in cases of ampox across the continent. Compared to the same period last year, the number of cases has increased by 160%, and the death rate has increased by 19%. This year scientists have reported the emergence of a new form of ampox in a mining town in Congo, which can kill up to 10 percent of people, the AP reported.
How can this be prevented?
The 2022 ampox outbreak, which affected several countries, was controlled mainly in rich countries through the use of vaccines and treatments, as well as encouraging people to avoid high-risk behaviors. However, these resources are rarely available in Africa.
According to Marks, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, vaccinations including those against smallpox, a related virus, would likely be beneficial. “We need large supplies of the vaccine so we can vaccinate the most at-risk populations,” he said, clarifying that this would include sex workers as well as children and adults living in areas affected by the outbreak, according to the AP report.
The Congolese government has requested 4 million doses, mainly for young children, but Chris Kasita Osako, coordinator of Congo’s monkeypox response committee, said no doses had yet been received.
(with inputs from agencies)
