WHO has declared monkeypox a global emergency. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and many countries in Africa have been badly affected by this disease. This is the second time that the viral infection has been declared as a global disease in this way. According to WHO data, at least 99,176 cases of monkeypox and 208 deaths have been reported in 116 countries since 2022.
What is worrying is that a new strain of the virus is spreading. The question arises, what is monkeypox? It is a self-limited viral infection caused by the Orthopox virus and causes fever, enlarged lymph nodes and painful rash that forms blisters and then crusts over. Although it is self-limited, it can cause death, especially in children and adults with weak immunity.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “The emergence of a new clade of ampox, its rapid spread in eastern DRC and the reporting of cases in several neighbouring countries are very worrying. In addition to outbreaks of other ampox clades in the DRC and other countries in Africa, it is clear that a coordinated international response is needed to prevent these outbreaks and save lives.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of this disease are as follows. Between 0-5 days, fever, headache and lymph node swelling occur. Within two days of the fever, a skin rash appears. The rash is more concentrated on the face, but can also be found on the palms and soles of the feet. It also affects the oral mucous membranes, eye infections, cornea of the eye and the genital area.
Monkeypox is spreading rapidly in these countries
M-pox is spreading rapidly in Africa. M-pox means monkeypox and this virus can become a threat to the world. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called a meeting of the Regulation Emergency Committee regarding this.
Monkeypox was initially detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but now cases are being reported in Uganda and Kenya as well, and it is feared that it is spreading very fast and may soon take the form of a pandemic.
It is worth noting that the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said that monkeypox has been detected in 34 African countries and all these countries are at high risk.
Earlier this year, more than 14000 cases of monkeypox were reported in Congo, Africa, in which 511 deaths have occurred. The special thing is that the cases reported so far this year are equal to the total figures of the year 2023.
Disclaimer: Some of the information given in the news is based on media reports. Before implementing any suggestion, please consult the concerned expert.
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