Monkeypox raises global concerns and anticipation of declaring a state of emergency

Arab Weather - With the increase in cases of monkeypox infection among humans around the world, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Africa are studying the possibility of declaring a health emergency.

This trend comes in light of warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, which called on doctors to be cautious in dealing with potential cases, according to a report published by the Washington Post.

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Global warnings and rising concerns

Africa is experiencing a sharp rise in cases of monkeypox , known as “mpox,” with the virus causing hundreds of deaths and thousands of infections, adding to the suffering of countries that have never experienced such an outbreak before. Africa has recorded more than 15,000 cases of the virus this year, more than the total number of cases recorded in all of 2023. The cases are concentrated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the disease has been endemic for decades. The disease has reached record levels this year, killing many children and spreading to countries that have never previously recorded an outbreak, such as Kenya and Ivory Coast.

• Declaration of a health emergency under consideration due to monkeypox

Officials have indicated that the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could declare a public health emergency next week. The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has said he intends to convene a committee to consider declaring a new global health emergency. Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an alert to doctors urging them to be on the lookout for possible symptoms in travelers from affected countries, though it has stressed that the risk remains low in the United States.

The African region is experiencing a significant surge in #mpox cases.
If you think you have #mpox , self-isolate and contact a health worker immediately.

Common symptoms include:
rash
fever
sore throat
headache
muscle aches
back pain
low energy
swollen… pic.twitter.com/PVStSqVGPu

— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) August 9, 2024

• Worrying developments in Congo and the spread of the virus

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the virus was first detected in 1970, recent developments have raised growing concern. Authorities there have recorded 13,800 suspected and confirmed cases, with 450 deaths, with infections mainly affecting children under five, who account for 68% of cases and 85% of deaths.

Challenges in vaccine distribution and health response

In Africa, the virus is spreading in ways not seen in developed countries, including in health care settings where workers lack adequate personal protective equipment and families live in cramped living conditions. Outbreaks have also been reported in displacement camps in conflict-affected areas. While the threat to Western countries remains low, African countries bearing the brunt of the outbreak are facing severe shortages of vaccines and antiviral drugs.

As officials work with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a vaccine distribution plan, the biggest challenge remains overcoming logistical hurdles and reaching hard-hit rural communities.

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