The WHO has announced an international health crisis due to the fast transmission of M-Pox in Africa.
This comes after Africa’s leading public health agency declared a health emergency due to the increasing number of viral infection cases, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and surrounding nations.
M-Pox, a viral infection spread through close contact, shows flu-like symptoms and a rash with pus. Although usually not deadly, the illness has the potential to worsen and become life-threatening. The WHO’s declaration of emergency is anticipated to speed up research, boost funding, and enhance global health efforts to fight the outbreak.
The ongoing epidemic in Congo is caused by clade I of the virus, however, a novel, more infectious strain called clade IB has surfaced, spreading quickly as a result of close proximity between individuals. This has resulted in the virus spreading across borders to countries like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the importance of a unified worldwide effort to control the outbreak and protect lives. He said that stopping the spread of M-Pox and safeguarding public health requires an international effort.
According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 17,000 cases of M-Pox have been tallied in the continent this year, resulting in 517 deaths. This represents a growth of 160% compared to the previous year, with incidents recorded in 13 African nations.
In 2022, a new variation of M-Pox, clade IIb, was transmitted worldwide mainly via direct physical contact between males. This resulted in a former worldwide health crisis, which was resolved after 10 months. Yet, the sudden reappearance and fast transmission of M-Pox in Africa have sparked fears once again, leading to a renewed global effort to manage the outbreak and avoid more fatalities.
