2023-12-20 18:06:00
MPOX Virus Spreading Rapidly in Congo, WHO Warns of Global Health Crisis
The MPOX virus, also known as monkeypox, is spreading at an alarming rate in Congo, with more than 1,000 cases reported every month. This has raised concerns about a potential new global health crisis, as outbreaks of the virus have also been recorded in some Asian countries.
In 2022, the MPOX virus began to spread internationally, with Europe being particularly affected. However, the state of emergency only lasted a year, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the emergency over. Now, the disease appears to be spreading rapidly again.
“We are concerned that there is international transmission,” said Rosamund Lewis, a WHO specialist in Geneva. The rapid increase in cases has been detected in Congo, and outbreaks have now been recorded in some Asian countries, posing a risk to people in Congo, neighboring countries, and around the world, according to the WHO.
MPOX disease is a viral infection that can be transmitted from animals to humans. The disease can also be transmitted through close contact, such as during sexual intercourse. The virus, previously known as monkeypox, was primarily found in rodents in West and Central Africa.
In Kinshasa, authorities have registered over 13,000 suspected cases this year, more than double last year’s numbers. Over 600 of those infected have already lost their lives. What is particularly alarming is that, for the first time, more women than men are affected in the regions affected by the epidemic. This is suspected to be related to sex work in Congo.
The WHO has recorded over 92,000 cases of infection in 117 different countries since May 2022, with the number of reported cases increasing again in recent months. Asian countries such as Japan, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia are particularly affected, with increasing outbreaks being reported.
While the WHO is intensively working on the development of a vaccine, the situation is concerning, and global efforts are required to address the spread of the MPOX virus and prevent a potential global health crisis.]
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