WHO declares Mpox public health emergency amid rising cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Mpox (formerly monkeypox) a global public health threat. The virus outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is spreading to other countries. It causes fatalities in 5% of infected adults and 10% of children.

According to Reuters, Mpox can spread through close contact. It usually has a mild course, but it can be fatal in rare cases. Symptoms include flu-like signs such as fever, headache, muscle aches, and a rash resembling pimples.

The virus is transmitted sexually, but there is evidence that the new strain can also be transmitted through close skin contact.

Reuters emphasizes that declaring the current situation a "public health emergency of international concern" will accelerate research, funding, and international measures and cooperation in public health to stop the disease.

The outbreak in the Congo started with the spread of an endemic strain. After the Congo, cases appeared in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, prompting WHO action. In Africa, a state of emergency has already been declared due to the Mpox epidemic. There have been warnings that the infection is spreading at an alarming rate.

Over 17,000 cases and 517 deaths have been reported on the continent, a 160% increase compared to the same period last year. So far, 13 countries have reported cases of the disease.

It's clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop this outbreak and save lives - said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, as quoted by Reuters.

The new, more dangerous strain of monkeypox virus has rightly triggered a WHO alert, requiring urgent monitoring. In 2022, the pathogen in its milder form was able to cause an epidemic, resulting in thousands of infections across various continents, so this could happen again now.

During the previous epidemic, the virus primarily spread among men who have sex with men. Currently, individuals with comorbidities, as well as seniors and children, may be particularly at risk.

Serious complications include, among others, vision problems, pneumonia, or encephalitis. Cases of miscarriage have also been reported among pregnant women.