Mpox Outbreak Spreads: WHO Sounds Alarm as Cases Reach 17,000

The World Health Organisation has declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency. The declaration was made after a meeting with independent experts, and it is the highest level of alarm under international health law.

According to the WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, “The mpox outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern. We have seen a significant increase in cases and deaths in recent weeks, and the outbreak has spread to several countries in Africa.”

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The WHO has reported that over 17,000 cases and 500 deaths have been reported in 13 African countries since the beginning of the year. The outbreak is classified as a “very high-risk event” by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that can spread easily between people and from infected animals. Symptoms include fever, painful rash, headache, muscle and back pain, low energy, and enlarged lymph nodes.

The WHO has called for a coordinated international response to the outbreak, including increased surveillance, contact tracing, and vaccination efforts.