At a press conference in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed that the mpox has plagued the Democratic Republic of Congo for over a decade, and the numbers are exploding every year.
In 2024, cases have already surpassed those recorded in 2023, with more than 14 thousand infected and 524 deaths.
Tedros stated that the WHO is on high alert and has stepped up efforts to contain the spread of mpox in Africa. However, the situation is already critical and is not limited to the continent alone. Last week, an emergency committee was convened to assess the severity of outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African nations.
The committee was unanimous in concluding that the situation had reached the level of a global public health emergency.
Additionally, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) had already classified the scenario as a continental emergency, warning about the alarming acceleration of transmission.
Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa CDC, reinforced that the response needs to be fast and comprehensive, to avoid a health catastrophe of global proportions.
THE new mpox variant, identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has already begun to spread rapidly to neighboring countries, many of which had never previously reported cases of the disease. This represents a imminent danger of a global health crisis.
The WHO Director-General stressed that a coordinated international action is imperative to control outbreaks, save lives and prevent a global tragedy.
The emergency declaration underlines the urgency of a global response to stop the spread of mpox, protect vulnerable populations and prevent a global public health crisis.
Change in Mpox Status
In May 2023, shortly after changing the status of covid-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that mpox was also no longer considered a public health emergency of international concern. Previously, in July 2022, the entity had declared an emergency due to the outbreak of the disease in several countries.
However, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was clear in stating that the end of the state of emergency did not mean the end of the work.
He stressed that the mpox continues to be a significant public health challenge, demanding a response that is robust, proactive and sustainable.
Tedros also highlighted that travel related cases, registered in all regions, continue to pose a threat. He warned of the specific risk faced by people living with untreated HIV, which remain particularly vulnerable to mpox.
The message was clear: countries need to maintain their testing and surveillance capacity, assess risks, quantify needs and act quickly when necessary to prevent new health crises.
The Mpox Disease
THE mpox It is a viral disease of zoonotic origin, that is, transmitted from animals to humans. Infection can occur in several ways: direct contact with infected wild animals, contact with people who are already infected with the virus, or even handling materials that have been exposed to the virus.
You The most common symptoms include rashes or skin lesions, swollen lymph nodes (known as inguinal lymph nodes), fever, body aches, headache, chills, and weakness..
To the skin lesions can vary in appearance and severity. They may be flat or slightly raised, filled with a clear or yellowish fluid, and eventually form crusts that dry and fall off.
The amount of injuries can vary dramatically, from just a few to thousands, depending on the severity of the infection.
Generally, the skin rashes focus on specific areas of the body, such as the face, palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
However, they can also appear on other parts of the body, including the mouth, eyes, genitals, and anus. This variation in the location of the lesions makes the mpox a worrying disease, due to the potential discomfort and complications that may arise.
It is important to remember that although the symptoms are visible and uncomfortable, prevention of mpox involves avoiding contact with known sources of infection, as well as proper hygiene practices.
Awareness of transmission modes and early identification of symptoms are essential to contain the spread of the disease.
Future Perspectives and Preparation
As the WHO reclassifies mpox as a global public health emergency, to the future prospects and preparation to face the disease become crucial. The world now faces the challenge of preparing for potential spread and preventing new outbreaks.
Continuous Monitoring: Global health authorities must maintain a constant monitoring of the situation. This includes the active surveillance to quickly detect new cases and variants of mpox, in addition to analyze epidemiological data to identify emerging patterns and trends.
Vaccine and Treatment Development: Research and development of effective vaccines and treatments for mpox they are essential. Investments in science and technology are needed to accelerate the development of new vaccines and therapies, and ensure that they are readily available to at-risk populations.
Strengthening Health Systems: Countries must strengthen their health systems to deal with possible future outbreaks. This includes increasing the capacity of diagnosis, ensure the continuous supply of medical resources and train health professionals to respond to health emergencies.
Education and Awareness: Keep the education and public awareness is vital. Information campaigns should be implemented to educate people about MPOX prevention, the signs and symptoms of the disease, and the importance of seeking medical help early.
International Cooperation: The international cooperation will be essential to effectively addressing mpox. Countries and organizations must work together to share information, coordinate efforts, and provide technical and financial support to the most affected areas.
Preparing for Future Crises: Finally, the lessons learned from the mpox response should be applied to improve preparedness and response to future public health emergencies. This involves creating emergency protocols, carrying out outbreak simulations and building global collaboration networks to face crises more effectively.
These measures will be essential for minimize the impact of mpox and ensure a agile and effective response in the face of any potential expansion of the disease in the future.
Access: I am healthy.
Source:
– World Health Organization (WHO).
– Brazil Agency.
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