World Health Organisation declares Mpox outbreak a global health emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the latest outbreak of Mpox in Africa as a global public health emergency.

It comes as an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to neighbouring countries.

Mpox can spread through close contact. Usually mild, it is fatal in rare cases and causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.

The decision to describe a disease outbreak as a "public health emergency of international concern" can lead to accelerated research, funding and international public health measures and co-operation to contain a disease.

The outbreak in Congo began with the spread of an endemic strain, known as clade I. But a new variant, clade Ib, appears to spread more easily through routine close contact, including sexual contact. It has spread from Congo to neighbouring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, triggering action from the WHO.

"It's clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Earlier this week, Africa's top public health body declared an mpox emergency for the continent after warning the viral infection was spreading at an alarming rate.

More than 17,000 suspected cases and 517 deaths have been reported on the African continent so far this year, a 160% increase in cases compared to the same period last year, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said.

A total of 13 countries have reported cases.

A different form of the virus spread globally in 2022, largely through sexual contact among men who have sex with men. This prompted the WHO to declare a public health emergency then which ended after 10 months.

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