The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the monkeypox outbreak in Africa as a global health emergency.
During a meeting of WHO’s emergency mpox committee, it was reported that the deadly strain of the virus, clade Ib, was initially controlled in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Following a virtual meeting of independent experts, they advised WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the severity of the outbreak.
As a result, WHO announced that the outbreak now qualifies as a public health emergency of international concern, the highest level of alarm under international health regulations.
This status is issued by WHO for extraordinary events that pose a threat to public health in other countries.
It can be recalled that the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention first declared an outbreak after over 17,000 cases were recorded since January, leading to more than 500 deaths.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that spreads rapidly from animals to humans.
It is transmitted through close contact such as touching, kissing, sexual intercourse, and sharing bed sheets and clothing with an infected person.
Symptoms include flu-like illness, headache, muscle and back pain, fatigue, rashes on the body, and swelling of facial areas.