WHO declares Mpox a global health emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Mpox outbreak in parts of Africa a public health emergency of international concern on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.

The highly contagious disease, once called monkeypox, has caused at least 450 deaths during an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It has now spread across central and eastern Africa.

However, Scientists are worried about the rapid spread of a new variant of the disease and its high death rate.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the possibility of the disease spreading further within Africa and to other regions “is very concerning”.

“A coordinated international response is essential to stop this outbreak and save lives,” he said.

Mpox spreads through close contact, such as sexual activity, skin-to-skin contact, and being near someone while talking or breathing.

It causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, and it can be fatal, with four out of every 100 cases resulting in death.

Clade 1 and Clade 2 Mpox

A previous Mpox public health emergency in 2022 was caused by the milder Clade 2.

Furthermore, a more deadly Clade 1 is spreading, which has killed up to 10% of infected people in past outbreaks.

The virus changed in September last year, leading to a new variant called Clade 1b.

This new variant has spread quickly and is considered “the most dangerous yet” by one scientist.

Since the beginning of the year, DR Congo has reported over 13,700 cases of mpox, which have resulted in at least 450 deaths.

Several other African countries, including Burundi, the Central African Republic, Kenya, and Rwanda, have found it.

The declaration of Mpox as a public health emergency is expected to speed up research, increase funding, and prompt implementing of additional international public health measures.

Dr. Josie Golding, from the Wellcome Trust, said it was a “strong signal”, while Emory University’s Dr. Boghuma Titanji said the move “underscores the gravity of the crisis”.

Prof. Trudie Lang, Director of the Global Health Network at the University of Oxford, described the situation as “important and timely.”

However, she noted that the emergence of a new strain brings “many unknowns that need to be addressed.”

The milder Clade 2 strain of mpox spread to almost 100 countries In July 2022, including several in Europe and Asia.

It spread quickly, with over 87,000 cases and 140 deaths reported during the outbreak, according to the WHO.

Who can contract Mpox?

Anyone can contract Monkeypox, but the outbreak has mostly affected men who have sex with men.

Moreover, the outbreak was contained by vaccinating those most at risk.

Scientists from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, announced a public health emergency.

Jean Kaseya, the head of the organization, warned that the outbreak could spiral out of control if they don’t take immediate action to contain it.

“We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat,” he said.

About WHO

WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is responsible for international public health.

Here are some key points about WHO:

1. Founded in 1948: WHO promotes global health and well-being.

2. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

3. Membership: 194 member states

4. Objective: Attain the highest possible level of health for all people

5. Focus areas:

• Health systems
• Health security
• Promoting health and well-being
• Non-communicable diseases
• Infectious diseases (e.g., COVID-19, malaria, HIV/AIDS)

6. Programs and initiatives:

• Global Health Observatory
• World Health Assembly
• International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
• Vaccination and immunization programs
• Emergency response and humanitarian aid

7. Impact:

WHO plays a crucial role in:

• Setting global health standards
• Providing technical assistance and support
• Coordinating international health responses
• Advocating for health equity and human rights

WHO works tirelessly to address global health challenges, promoting health and well-being for all.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook