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After the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo spread to neighboring countries, the World Health Organization declared MPOX a global public health emergency for the second time in two years.
New cases of the virus have since been discovered in countries outside the continent, including Thailand, the Philippines, Sweden and Pakistan.
Health officials have raised concerns because many of the new cases in Africa have been identified as a new, more deadly strain known as clade 1b. The new strain has also been confirmed outside the African continent in Thailand.
CNBC breaks down what we know so far.
What is mpox?
Mpox is a viral infection Transmitted through close contact (including sexual contact). It causes flu-like symptoms including fever, chills and muscle aches, as well as pus-filled lesions. Although usually mild, it can be fatal.
There are broadly two types of mpox, called clade, with the latest outbreak strain identified as clade 1. Seems to spread more easily and has higher mortality rate Compared to 2022 strains known as clade 2.
It also appears to disproportionately affect young people, with most deaths occurring in children.
Why are cases increasing?
A new branch of clade 1 (called clade 1b) is said to be responsible for the recent rise in cases, according to World Health Organization.
The World Health Organization says clade 1b is spreading from person to person, often through sexual contact. Although first discovered in 2024, it is believed to have appeared in the Democratic Republic of Congo around 2023.
“The outbreak associated with clade Ib in the Democratic Republic of the Congo primarily affects adults and is spreading rapidly, with ongoing transmission primarily, but not exclusively, through transmission associated with sexual contact,” the health organization said in a report. Zooming in on networks related to commercial sex and sex workers.
Where are the cases?
In addition to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Thailand.
Cluster 1 cases have been reported in the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo Sweden.
Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa and other countries have reported cases related to mild branch 2. the Philippines and Pakistan.
What does the WHO statement mean?
“Public Health Emergency of International Concern” status is the highest level of the World Health Organization and is designed to accelerate international public health measures and cooperation to contain the disease.
“It is clear that a coordinated international response is critical to stopping these outbreaks and saving lives,” he said. When WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a statement on August 14.
He added: “The discovery of a new MPOX clade spreading rapidly in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, its detection in neighboring countries where MPOX has not previously been reported, and the potential for further spread within and outside Africa is very concerning.”
However, Dr. Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization’s regional director for Europe, stressed last week that Mpox is “It’s not coronavirus.”
in a statement publish On Tuesday, Kruger declined to compare MPOX to the coronavirus pandemic and said the risk to the general population was low.
“We can and must address measles outbreaks together across regions and continents,” Kruger said.
What are the authorities doing?
There is a vaccine to treat the virus, but access is an issue. The World Health Organization is currently working with countries and vaccine manufacturers to increase vaccination access in affected countries.
United Nations health agency It said it has distributed $1.45 million in emergency funding so far and more may need to be released in the coming days. Its response plan is expected to have immediate initial funding requirements of $15 million.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has formed a partnership with vaccine manufacturer Bavarian Nordic, saying it will help 2 million doses delivered This year, in addition to the existing ones, it will reach 10 million by the end of 2025.
Bavarian Nordic said it also supplies the vaccine to countries outside Africa and is seeking approval from the European Union’s medicines regulator to expand use of its MPOX vaccine in teenagers.
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