WHO declares mpox global health emergency

The World Health Organization declared the spread of mpox a global health emergency on Wednesday.

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, has spread rapidly and become a global emergency for the second time in three years, The New York Times reported.

This time, however, the newspaper said the outbreak is deadlier than previous times with more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths. In the 2022 outbreak, it was eventually spread to 70 countries but less than 1% of people died.

It has spread in children and adults in more than a dozen countries, The Associated Press reported. In the Democratic Republic of Congo 70% of cases are in children younger than 15.

“The worst case I’ve seen is that of a six-week-old baby who was just two weeks old when he contracted mpox,” Jacques Alonda, an epidemiologist working in Congo with international charities. The child had been in their care for a month.

“He got infected because hospital overcrowding meant he and his mother were forced to share a room with someone else who had the virus, which was undiagnosed,” Alonda said.

The WHO’s move came after the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared a public health emergency, and asked for help from around the globe to stop the spread.

Vaccines are in limited supply and may not reach Congo for months, Reuters reported. There are also issues with funding and other outbreaks that are why the declaration was needed.

Officials estimated that only about 65,000 vaccines may be available in the short term.

Mpox signs & symptoms

People with mpox often get a rash that may be located on hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth or near the genitals and anus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The incubation period is three to 17 days, and during that time a person will not have symptoms and may feel fine, the CDC said.

The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing.

The rash can initially look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.

Read: What is mpox, where are the outbreaks and what is the WHO doing?

Other symptoms of mpox can include the following:

• Fever

• Chills

• Swollen lymph nodes

• Exhaustion

• Muscle aches and backache

• Headache

• Respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)

You may experience all or only a few symptoms.

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