WHO declares mpox a global health emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared its highest alert level due to the emergence of a new variant of mpox, the viral disease previously known as monkeypox, in Africa.
“Today, the emergency committee met and informed me that, in its opinion, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted this advice,” WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference on Wednesday.
The measure has no concrete consequences, but is intended to alert authorities around the world to prepare for possible epidemics.
On Tuesday evening, the African Centres for Disease Control declared a public emergency in relation to the virus.
More dangerous strain
There are two main strains of the virus known to exist. The milder one affected more than 100 countries in 2022, including in Europe, and spread through sexual contact. The second, more deadly strain has been discovered recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is considered to be more dangerous.
The Flemish Red Cross Flanders is providing 50,000 euros in emergency aid to combat the further spread of the virus in the DRC and surrounding countries.
The virus has been spreading for some time in the DRC, with more than 14,000 suspected cases and at least 511 deaths reported there since the beginning of the year.
"We will not be able to guarantee our health here until the rest of the world can too"
According to the Red Cross, the number of infections may be a lot higher than thought. Access to testing is limited in remote areas. Barely 24 per cent of suspected cases can be tested, and of these, about 65 per cent are positive. In the DRC, 70 per cent of cases are in children and teenagers. In Burundi, children aged up to five account for almost 40 per cent of cases.
Mpox can cause rashes and fever and can be life-threatening, especially for children. It spreads from animals to humans, but can also be transmitted through close physical contact with an infected person.
Health partnership
Belgium has facilitated the donation of 215,000 vaccine doses against mpox from the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HERA) to Africa CDC, Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke and Development minister Caroline Gennez said in a press release.
Given the seriousness of the situation, the rapid spread and the potential risk to Europe, Belgium submitted a formal request for HERA vaccines to be supplied.
“One of the priorities of our EU presidency was to build a more equal partnership between Europe and Africa by working more closely together on health. Of that work, we are now seeing the results,” Gennez said.
“These vaccines will save lives, and help stop the spread of the mpox virus. This is further proof that international solidarity works: we will not be able to guarantee our health here until the rest of the world can too.”
A healthcare worker prepares a dose of the mpox vaccine © PHOTO PATRICK T FALLON / AFP
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