The World Health Organization’s announcement came after the disease spread to several African countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, following the emergence of a new strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while 13 countries reported cases of infection.
Designating a disease outbreak as a “public health emergency of international concern” is WHO’s highest level of alert and can accelerate research, funding, international public health measures and cooperation to contain the outbreak.
Monkeypox, also known as “mpox,” is a viral disease that can cause a painful rash. Most people recover from it, but some become seriously ill.
Symptoms of this virus include a rash, malaise, fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, as well as chills, headache and muscle pain.
This virus is transmitted through contact, including face-to-face contact, skin-to-skin contact, mouth-to-skin contact, and respiratory droplets. It is necessary to stay at home, wash and sterilize hands, wear a mask, and avoid touching things in order to prevent infection.
“It is clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives after a new strain of monkeypox was detected and rapidly spread in eastern DRC, and was detected in neighbouring countries that had not previously reported cases,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
In a related context, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that there are reports of more than 17,000 suspected cases of monkeypox and 517 deaths on the continent so far this year, stressing that it is a 160% increase in cases compared to the same period last year.
Concerns and questions
In turn, the “Networks” program, in its episode dated 8/15/2024, monitored some of the tweeters’ interaction with the World Health Organization’s declaration of the virus as a global emergency, amid speculation raised by some about other motives as a result of this declaration.
In this context, Fatima wondered, “Why did the World Health Organization feel the need to declare a global health emergency instead of declaring one limited to African countries?” adding, “This will undoubtedly raise a wave of speculation about other possible motives.”
Nelly warned of a new global pandemic, saying, “This time from Africa, not from China, and it may be destined to be a pandemic similar to Corona, and our Ministry of Health (in her country) should take this warning seriously.”
For his part, Darwish wondered, “Have the countries of the region prepared to confront a potential virus similar to what happened more than 4 years ago, when Covid-19 invaded the entire planet?”
But Vixie expressed hope that the WHO declaration would be “a normal procedure for a normal disease, and not something new or worse.”
According to the World Health Organization, monkeypox is treated with supportive care, vaccines, and treatments developed for monkeypox and approved for use against it.
The virus was discovered in Denmark in 1958 in monkeys held for research purposes. The first human case of infection with the virus was a 9-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970. It can sometimes spread from animals to humans.