What you need to know about Monkeypox
On 14 August, the World Health Organization (WHO) Monkeypox or Mpox, an “international health emergency” following an outbreak of cases in Africa.
Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals.
Transmission: It can also be transmitted from human to human through close physical contact.
Symptoms: It is characterized by a rash or skin lesions generally concentrated on the face, hands and feet. In most cases, the disease heals spontaneously within two or three weeks.
Vaccination: There are two licensed and effective vaccines against Mpox. Several studies have shown that vaccination against “classic” smallpox is 85% effective in preventing Mpox. Previous smallpox vaccination may result in less severe disease. However, the smallpox vaccine has not been administered since the disease was eradicated in 1980.
Africa worst hit
Africa is facing the spread of a new strain of the virus, detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in September 2023 and dubbed “clade Ib”, which is deadlier and more transmissible than previous strains.
According to the WHO, more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths have been reported since the beginning of the year in the DRC, already exceeding last year’s total. The mortality rate remains below 4%.
The DRC and other African countries have been experiencing Mpox outbreaks for over ten years.
WHO encourages all countries to strengthen surveillance, share data, and work to understand the transmission of the virus better.
Sourced from various health websites
