We barely recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and now, there may be another disease that threatens to send the world into another international health emergency. This particular disease – Mpox virus or Monkeypox – finds its origins in the continent of Africa. The World Health Organization or WHO is likely to declare a global emergency should things escalate. Here are all of the other important details that you would need to know about this deadly infectious disease.
What Is The Deadly Mpox Virus Spreading Across Africa
I am convening the Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of #mpox on Wednesday 14 August 2024.
The Committee will provide me with its views on whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern — and if so, it will advise me on the temporary…
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) August 10, 2024
According to an article which was recently published by The Healthsite, the disease was first detected in the Democratic Republic Of Congo or DRC. In 2022, it declared a national health emergency owing to the spread of the virus. The diseases then soon spread to other African countries like Uganda and Kenya.
It is feared that the disease may spread across the world if sufficient action is not taken. As such, the director general of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has said that he is setting up an Emergency Committee regarding the spread of the virus.
In a post made by him on X (formerly known as Twitter), he says that prevention efforts are being scaled up. The Mpox disease is contagious through animals and humans. It causes rashes, headaches and fevers. Health complications include pneumonia, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, rectum, brain and heart inflammation and corneal infection.
How You Can Help In Preventing The Spread Of This Disease
In some cases, it can also cause loss of vision. The disease is contagious and its infection can manifest in two to four weeks after contact with an infected person. The two major strategies for preventing the spread are avoiding contact with infected individuals and vaccines.
The WHO is collaborating with the African Centres For Disease Control and Prevention which is the health agency of the African Union.
Also Read: Over 1000 People In South Korea’s Namwon City Suffer From Norovirus After Eating Contaminated Kimchi
Do you know anyone who has caught this infection yet? How else do you think spreading can be prevented? Let us know in the comments section below!
Cover Image Credits: Canva Images (For Representational Purposes Only)
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First Published: August 12, 2024 11:27 AM