2023-12-23 15:04:00
Mpox, formerly known as “monkeypox”, could become a global threat, warns the World Health Organization (WHO). The disease has seen a dramatic increase in reported cases in the Congo, with over 13,000 cases and 600 deaths recorded.
WHO expert Rosamund Lewis expressed concerns about the potential for international transmission of Mpox, citing the main distribution area as currently being in the Congo. The disease has also been spreading in Japan, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia.
The virus is transmitted to humans from various rodents in West and Central Africa, with close contact with infected individuals, including sexual intercourse, being a common method of transmission. Symptoms of Mpox include severe fever and skin changes such as rashes, blisters, pustules, sores, and scabs, with the potential for the disease to range from mild to fatal in rare cases.
Earlier this year, Mpox was reported to have spread among men who have sex with men in Europe, prompting the WHO to declare a health emergency of international concern. While the emergency was lifted in May, the continued spread of Mpox remains a cause for global concern.
With reported cases of Mpox increasing from around 100 a month to over 1,000 a month, the WHO’s renaming of the disease was aimed at reducing the stigma associated with it. Despite the name change, the organization has stressed the need for global vigilance in the face of this potentially escalating health threat.]
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