Dear MEL Topic Readers,
WHO declares Mpox global health emergency
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral infection that belongs to
the same family as smallpox. It is highly infectious as it spreads through
close contact with an infected person, including skin-to-skin contact, talking,
or breathing closely. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue,
and swollen lymph nodes. One of the most distinctive symptoms is a rash, which
usually starts as flat spots, and then turns into small blisters filled with
fluid. These blisters eventually form scabs and fall off. The rash can appear
on the face, hands, feet, and other parts of the body, including the genitals
and anus. The rash can be painful and itchy, and in severe cases, it can lead
to scarring. While most people recover fully, the illness can be severe and
even fatal in some cases, particularly in young children, pregnant women, and
people with weakened immune systems. On August 14, the World Health
Organization (WHO) declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a global health
emergency as a deadlier strain of
the virus, clade Ib, had reached four previously
unaffected countries in central and east Africa. 13,700 cases and 450 deaths
have been reported in the DR Congo so far this year. Unfortunately, there isn’t
any approved treatment to cure mpox, and only pain relief and skincare are used
to ease the symptoms. The good news is that there is a two-doze vaccine called
JYNNEOS. A coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks
and save lives.
Read the article and learn about the emergency declaration by the WHO.
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