World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made important assessments following the meeting of the WHO Emergency Committee regarding the increasing potential for further international spread of Mpox virus (Mpox) in Africa and other regions. Ghebreyesus noted that Mpox-related cases have been reported continuously in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the past decade and that there has been a steady increase in the number of cases reported each year.
Ghebreyesus, “The number of reported cases has increased significantly in the past year. As of this year, the number of reported cases is more than 14,000. “There have been 524 deaths due to the disease, and this number has already exceeded last year’s total.”Ghebreyesus recalled that last week he announced that he would convene an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations to assess the increase in M-pox cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in Africa. “The WHO Emergency Committee met today and gave me an advisory opinion that the situation (regarding M pox virus) constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. “I accepted that advice.”He used the expressions.
Ghebreyesus also noted that the committee’s recommendation was in line with the African Union’s declaration yesterday of a continent-wide public health emergency over the M pox virus, which is rapidly spreading in African countries.
M Smallpox Virus and Transmission Methods
The M pox virus is transmitted through infected rodents (such as mice and squirrels) or individuals who carry the virus. Ways of transmission include touching skin rashes caused by the virus, using items such as clothing, sheets, and towels that have come into contact with these rashes, and coming into contact with body fluids.
The first symptoms of the virus can appear within 5 to 21 days following infection. Symptoms usually include high fever, headache, back and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, chills, shivering and the formation of chickenpox-like blisters on the body.
There is no specific treatment for the disease, and it is treated with antiviral drugs. The majority of cases have mild symptoms and recover within a few weeks. The WHO changed the name of the disease, known as “monkeypox”, to “mpox” in 2022 due to concerns about racism and discrimination.
