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WHO: Monkey pox, global public health emergency

2024-08-14 22:35:31, Kosova & Bota CNA
WHO: Monkey pox, global public health emergency
Illustrative photo

For the second time in two years, the World Health Organization has declared monkeypox a global public health emergency. Wednesday's decision follows an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighboring countries.

An emergency committee met early Wednesday to advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghenreyesus whether the spread of the disease constitutes a "public health emergency of global scale".

This emergency constitutes the WHO's highest level of alert and aims to accelerate research, financial resources and public health measures and international cooperation to contain a disease.

"It is clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop the spread and save lives ," said Mr Tedros.

Monkey pox can be spread through contact. Usually a mild disease, in some cases it can be fatal. Monkey pox causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled blisters on the body. A new variant of smallpox appears to spread more easily through close contact, including intimate relationships. Monkey leprosy has spread from Congo to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

"The discovery and rapid spread of a new variant of monkeypox in the Congo, the discovery in neighboring countries that had not previously reported cases and the possibility of further spread within Africa and beyond, is very worrying ," said Mr Tedros.

He said on Wednesday that the WHO had authorized $1.5 million in emergency funds and planned to authorize more in the coming days.

Earlier this week, Africa's top public health body declared monkeypox an emergency for the continent after warning that the viral infection was spreading at an alarming rate, with more than 17,000 suspected cases and more than 500 deaths. this year, mainly among children in Congo./ VOA





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