2023-05-08 12:16:04
The other two virus groups that WHO closely monitors are avian influenza viruses and viral diseases transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, including dengue fever, yellow fever, zika and chikungunya.
The Mpox virus, which was practically only known from a few African countries, suddenly spread from person to person in other countries on a larger scale in 2022. More than 87,000 Mpox cases have been reported to the WHO from 111 countries since the beginning of 2022 (as of April 25), including 130 deaths. A public health emergency of international scope (PHEIC) is still in force today. This is the highest alert that WHO can issue.
It is worrying that it has stepped out of its ecological niche in central and western Africa, said WHO’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness division director Sylvie Briand in Geneva. The virus could change, become more contagious, or infect a vulnerable population that has been spared, such as pregnant women or young children. In these groups, the disease could take a much more severe course. So far, men who have sex with men have been particularly affected.
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