WHO has declared a monkeypox emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox (monkey pox) infection a global emergency again at a meeting on Wednesday. According to the WHO, in recent weeks, a large epidemic of monkeypox has been recorded in African countries, and there is a risk of the infection spreading to other continents.
WHO Director-General Tedros Gebreesus expressed concern that mpox is an international threat. He noted that the WHO will continue its work to provide treatment and prevent the further spread of the disease both in countries affected by the new epidemic and throughout the world.
Earlier, a state of emergency was declared on the African continent due to the mpox situation. Since the beginning of the year, more than 15,000 cases and 461 deaths have been reported in 18 African countries, which is a 160 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
More than 90 percent of all cases have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have recorded mpox infection for the first time.
Health officials say Africa's top priority is to vaccinate its population immediately against monkeypox. The continent needs 10 million doses of vaccine to control the spread of the infection, but only 200,000 are currently available.
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