The WHO has declared monkeypox a global emergency. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and many countries in Africa have been hit hard by the disease. This is the second time a viral infection has been declared a global disease. According to WHO data, at least 99,176 cases of monkeypox and 208 deaths have been reported in 116 countries since 2022.
What is worrying is that a new strain of the virus is spreading. The question arises: what is monkeypox? It is a self-limiting viral infection caused by the orthopox virus that causes fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and a painful rash that blisters and then crusts over. Although it is self-limiting, it can be fatal, especially in children and adults with weakened immunity.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “The emergence of a new clade of Mpox, its rapid spread in eastern DRC and the reporting of cases in several neighbouring countries is very worrying. Other clades of Mpox in DRC and other countries in Africa Beyond the outbreak, it is clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of this disease are as follows. Between days 0 and 5, fever, headache, and swollen lymph nodes occur. A rash appears within two days of the fever. The rash is more concentrated on the face, but can also be found on the palms and soles of the feet. It also affects the oral mucosa, eye infections, the cornea of the eye, and the genital area.
Monkeypox is spreading rapidly in these countries
M Pox is spreading rapidly in Africa. M Pox, that is Monkeypox and this virus can become a threat to the world. The Director General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called a meeting of the Emergency Regulatory Committee on this issue.
Monkeypox was first detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but patients are now also being found in Uganda and Kenya and there are fears that it could spread very quickly and soon become a pandemic.
It is worth noting that the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that monkeypox has been detected in 34 countries in Africa and all of these countries are at high risk.
Earlier this year, more than 14,000 cases of monkeypox were reported in Congo, Africa, where 511 deaths occurred. The special thing is that the cases reported so far this year are equal to the total figures for the year 2023.
Disclaimer: Some information given in the news is based on media reports. Before implementing any suggestion, you must consult the concerned expert.
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