WHO announces new public health emergency
The World Health Organization has urged for widespread vaccinations against monkeypox due to a rise in infections across Africa. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
A rise in monkeypox infections across Africa has prompted vaccination initiatives.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the increase in monkeypox virus cases in Africa as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) and called for a vaccination campaign.
Monkeypox has been endemic in central Africa for years, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The WHO declared an emergency when the virus began spreading in late 2022 and renamed the disease "mpox" to avoid "stigma."
“On top of outbreaks of other mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives,” stated WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday.
This announcement followed the conclusion of the WHO emergency committee's assessment that the increase in infections could extend across Africa and potentially beyond.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has already proclaimed a health emergency, noting the virus's spread to Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
According to WHO statistics, more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths have been reported this year alone, surpassing the total counts from the previous year.
Dr. Tedros mentioned that the virus "appears to be spreading mainly through sexual networks," which he described as "especially concerning." The WHO has historically identified gay men as a significant demographic affected by the virus.
“The current upsurge of mpox in parts of Africa, along with the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain of the monkeypox virus, is an emergency not only for Africa, but for the entire globe,” stated WHO Emergency Committee Chair Professor Dimie Ogoina.
Ogoina further expressed, “Mpox, originating in Africa, was neglected there, and later caused a global outbreak in 2022. It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself.”
The WHO has recommended utilizing two vaccines approved by national regulators and has initiated emergency use procedures to allow countries that have not yet authorized these vaccines to implement them.
Dr. Tedros projected the initial cost for the regional response plan aimed at curbing the virus's spread at $15 million. The WHO has already allocated $1.45 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies and plans to release additional funds shortly.
Transmission of the disease primarily occurs through skin and mucosal contact with an infected individual, contaminated items, or infected animals. Symptoms include an acute rash, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, muscle and body aches, high fever, and headaches. The virus was first observed in macaque monkeys in the late 1950s, which led to its initial naming. The first human case was recorded by the WHO in 1970 in Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the increase in monkeypox virus cases in Africa as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) and called for a vaccination campaign.
Monkeypox has been endemic in central Africa for years, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The WHO declared an emergency when the virus began spreading in late 2022 and renamed the disease "mpox" to avoid "stigma."
“On top of outbreaks of other mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives,” stated WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday.
This announcement followed the conclusion of the WHO emergency committee's assessment that the increase in infections could extend across Africa and potentially beyond.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has already proclaimed a health emergency, noting the virus's spread to Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
According to WHO statistics, more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths have been reported this year alone, surpassing the total counts from the previous year.
Dr. Tedros mentioned that the virus "appears to be spreading mainly through sexual networks," which he described as "especially concerning." The WHO has historically identified gay men as a significant demographic affected by the virus.
“The current upsurge of mpox in parts of Africa, along with the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain of the monkeypox virus, is an emergency not only for Africa, but for the entire globe,” stated WHO Emergency Committee Chair Professor Dimie Ogoina.
Ogoina further expressed, “Mpox, originating in Africa, was neglected there, and later caused a global outbreak in 2022. It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself.”
The WHO has recommended utilizing two vaccines approved by national regulators and has initiated emergency use procedures to allow countries that have not yet authorized these vaccines to implement them.
Dr. Tedros projected the initial cost for the regional response plan aimed at curbing the virus's spread at $15 million. The WHO has already allocated $1.45 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies and plans to release additional funds shortly.
Transmission of the disease primarily occurs through skin and mucosal contact with an infected individual, contaminated items, or infected animals. Symptoms include an acute rash, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, muscle and body aches, high fever, and headaches. The virus was first observed in macaque monkeys in the late 1950s, which led to its initial naming. The first human case was recorded by the WHO in 1970 in Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
