WHO calls emergency meeting as monkeypox crosses borders
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced it will convene an Emergency Committee regarding the monkeypox outbreak. There are rising concerns about the spread of this virus from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to other African countries and beyond.
So far, the monkeypox virus has mainly been active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where, according to WHO data, since the beginning of the year, it has infected over 14,000 people and has been responsible for 511 deaths. This disease has long been present in the DRC, but in recent years, cases have gradually increased.
The current outbreak is caused by a virus called clade 1b. In the last month alone, 50 confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
- So far, the multinational outbreak has been concentrated mostly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has reported more than 14,000 cases of mpox this year - said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of WHO.
He added that the committee "will gather as soon as possible" and will consist of independent experts from various fields.
Monkeypox. What is this disease?
Monkeypox is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by a virus. This virus can also be transmitted from human to human. Monkeypox is characterised by fever, headache, muscle aches, and a rash that resembles pimples, making it difficult to distinguish from chickenpox. This disease most commonly occurs in Africa.
