WHO once again warns of mpox as a public health emergency
World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has determined that the “rebirth” of mpox “continues to constitute an international public health emergency”.
The solution comes after growing number and continued geographic spread of casesoperational challenges on the ground and the need to organize and maintain a cohesive response between countries and partners.
This is what Tedros said after a meeting held this Friday by the Emergency Committee of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) in response to the worsening smallpox epidemic. According to WHO, next week temporary recommendations issued by the Director General to IHR member states.
He the virus has a low risk of spreading
mpox is zoonotic diseaseThis means it can be transmitted between animals and people. This virus belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirusas with smallpox. Was first identified in 1958 in a group of primates and its exact origin remains unknown. However, transmission is thought to be associated with small rodents and squirrels in tropical forests.
He the virus has a low risk of spreading between people. Although most cases occur in men in homosexual relationships and they are advised to watch for unusual rashes or lesions, the disease is not considered a sexually transmitted disease. It is transmitted through contact with wounds, body fluids, droplets or contaminated materiallike bed linen. The incubation period ranges from 6 to 13 days and can last up to 21 days. symptoms similar to smallpoxsuch as headache, fever, chills, muscle pain, extreme fatigue and even death.
Although the number of cases has increased sharply in Africa, rare disease. One of the main explanations for its spread is that traditional vaccination against smallpox was discontinued due to viral eradication, and this vaccine provided very high cross-protection against MPox. Besides, deforestation and greater mobility of people They have also led to an increase in the number of contacts between people and animals that carry the virus.
African public health emergency
IN Central and West AfricaThe virus is endemic, with thousands of cases reported each year. However, these They began to grow exponentially from August 2024.. On August 12, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the growing outbreaks had become a public health emergency, with more than 500 people killed at the time.
Past August 14, 2024Director General of WHO announced for the first time the revival of MPOX in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its expansion to neighboring countries as a public health emergency of international concern.
Outside this continent, cases have been reported in countries such as the United States, Europe, Israel, Singapore and Sweden.