2024-01-03 19:45:13
The MPOX virus, also known as monkeypox, is spreading rapidly in Congo and is causing concern for global health experts. According to a report by fr.de, more than 1,000 cases of the virus are being reported every month, signaling a potential new global health crisis.
The virus, which is transmitted from animals to humans, can cause symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, and skin changes. It can also be transmitted through close contact, including sexual intercourse. While MPOX infections are usually milder compared to smallpox, they can also be severe and in rare cases, fatal.
Kinshasa, the capital of Congo, has already registered over 13,000 suspected cases this year, with more than 600 reported deaths. What is particularly alarming is that, for the first time, more women than men are affected in the regions hit by the epidemic, raising concerns that this may be related to sex work in Congo.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the virus poses a risk to people in Congo, neighboring countries, and around the world. They have sent a team of experts to the Central African country and are intensively working on the development of a vaccine. This comes after the WHO lifted the emergency status for MPOX in May 2023, only to see the virus spreading rapidly again in recent months.
Since May 2022, the WHO has recorded over 92,000 cases of MPOX infection in 117 different countries, with the number of reported cases increasing from around 100 per month to more than 1,000 per month, particularly in Asian countries like Japan, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia.
The reemergence of the MPOX virus as a global health threat highlights the need for continued vigilance and international cooperation in addressing infectious diseases. The WHO’s efforts to contain the virus and develop a vaccine will be crucial in controlling its spread and preventing a potential global health crisis.]
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