Monkeypox: WHO Declares A New Health Emergency, Know Its Symptoms

Monkeypox has now become a global outbreak officially declared by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus. It is widely spread across Africa but is concerned that it’ll spread to the International borders. The virus is showing its hazardous impact in Eastern and Central Africa.

Due to the emergency situation meeting of the United Nations Health Agency emergency trying to discuss future steps of disease prevention and control, vaccine distribution, and an approach for international funding to quell the outbreak for future spread.

What is the Approximate Surge of Monkeypox in Africa?

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus announced Monkeypoxas a global health emergency after the meeting of the United Nations Health agency emergency committee. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared on the continent Tuesday.

There are a total of 14,000 cases and 524 deaths in Africa this year, which already exceeds last year's figure. Earlier this year Congolese people were affected more, only this year killed 10% more people and may spread more easily.

WHO said Monkeypox spread more easily identified for the first time in the four East African countries Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. All of those outbreaks were linked to the epidemic in Congo. The deadliest strain was rapidly spreading in Central and West Africa, which had close contact with animals.

What is the Monkey Pox Virus and its Symptoms

Monkeypox also known as Mpox, was first time identified by scientists were outbreaks of “Pox-like” disease in Monkeys. But later it spread among the people of Africa. The recent spread found between Central and West Africa.

The recent spread of the virus is Clade Ib and it has reached four unaffected countries in Africa, causing more severe symptoms. Monkey Pox is divided into the two clades of viruses clades I and II. They evolved with time and both are genetically and clinically different. In Africa, recently clade II virus is spreading but clade Ib is highly risky.

US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says that there are no cases of Clade I Mpox found in the USA but they are monitoring the situation.

Monkeypox Virus spreads through saliva, touch, and sex. You found symptoms like lesions, painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, muscle and back pain etc.

How are WHO and CDC trying to control the virus outbreak?

The WHO director-general Tedros said the virus could be contained “quite straightforwardly if we do the right things at the right time. It’s clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives”.

They are also appealing for funding research and organizing efforts to quell the outbreak to better understand Clade Ib and its spread.

WHO signed off on the Emergency Use Listing process for both Mpox vaccines and developed a regional response plan that requires $ 15 million, which was released from the WHO contingency fund for emergencies.

According to Tim Nguyen of the WHO Health Emergency Programme, half of million of the vaccines are in stock and another 2.4 million could possibly be produced by the end of the year. The African continent needs vaccines to fill the stock, the Congo region is highly contaminated and it affecting the children there with a death rate of 85%.