The WHO is taking decisive action against the Mpox virus as cases surge in Africa. Learn more about the measures being implemented.
Summoning an “emergency” meeting of international experts on Wednesday, the World Health Organization’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed the surge in cases of the most dangerous Mpox virus variant across African countries.
According to reports, the highly infectious nature of this variant has caused it to spread rapidly among individuals, resulting in serious concern from experts at WHO.
During a press briefing held in Geneva on Wednesday, the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that an expert will assess whether the current outbreak warrants classification as a global emergency.
According to Tedros, WHO has allocated a sum of $1 million from its emergency fund towards aiding efforts to tackle the mpox outbreak.
Last week, it was announced by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that monkeypox or mpox has been found in 10 African countries this year. DR Congo had the majority of cases and deaths accounting for over 96%.
The Africa CDC reports that approximately 70% of the infections in Congo occur among individuals aged 15 and below, with this age group also comprising 85% of recorded fatalities.
Last week, the first reported cases of Mpox were documented in Burundi and Rwanda. Subsequently, similar instances were also discovered in Kenya and the Central African Republic.
Earlier this year, researchers notified the discovery of a new variant of mpox in a mining town located in Congo. This strain is deadlier and can result fatal for up to 10% of those who acquire it.
There are concerns that this variation of the virus could have a higher propensity to infect people.
The transmission of Mpox occurs via close contact with individuals who have contracted it, even during sexual encounters.
Mpox was declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization in 2022 as it had spread to more than 70 countries, causing significant harm among the gay and bisexual male population.
While Western countries have managed to effectively control the spread of mpox through inoculations and remedies, these choices remain in short supply throughout Africa.
Various concerning aspects of the mpox crisis in Africa were brought to attention by Maria Van Kerkhove, who is responsible for overseeing the outbreak department at WHO. She urged a prompt response to this issue.
“It is imperative that we do not permit the world to merely witness and procrastinate,” she stressed. “We must take action at this very moment.”
