08-15-2024, 01:50 PM
This post was last modified 08-15-2024, 01:51 PM by Maxmars.
Edit Reason: added content
Yesterday, the World Health Organization declared an international health emergency over an outbreak of mpox that is spreading from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
(According to the Wiki, Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is an infectious viral disease that can occur in humans and other animals... The illness is usually mild, and most of infected individuals recover within a few weeks without treatment.)
From ArsTechnica: Mpox outbreak is an international health emergency, WHO declares
It is the second time in about two years that mpox's spread has spurred the WHO to declare a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), the highest level of alarm for the United Nations health agency. In July 2022, the WHO declared a PHEIC after mpox cases had spread across the globe, with the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe, primarily in men who have sex with men. The outbreak was caused by clade II mpox viruses, which, between the two mpox clades that exist, is the relatively mild one, causing far fewer deaths. As awareness, precautions, and vaccination increased, the outbreak subsided and was declared over in May 2023.
Unlike the 2022–2023 outbreak, the current mpox outbreak is driven by the clade I virus, the more dangerous version that causes more severe disease and more deaths. Also, while the clade II virus in the previous outbreak unexpectedly spread via sexual contact in adults, this clade I outbreak is spreading in more classic contact patterns, mostly through skin contact of household members and health care workers. A large proportion of those infected have been children.
To date, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the virus is endemic, has reported more than 22,000 suspected mpox cases and more than 1,200 deaths since the start of January 2023. In recent months, the outbreak has spilled out into multiple neighboring countries, including Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda.
Now, of course the UN wants the W.H.O. not to lose relevance after "recent events" (ahem) so they make sure the news 'attends and reports' their declarations...
On Tuesday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared a similar emergency. Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya said the declaration will "mobilize our institutions, our collective will, and our resources to act—swiftly and decisively. This empowers us to forge new partnerships, strengthen our health systems, educate our communities, and deliver life-saving interventions where they are needed most."
But the essentially identical declaration wasn't "newsworthy" until the W.H.O. said it.... government's need to think on that, as they open their taxpayer checkbooks for the next W.H.O. installment of financial support.
(According to the Wiki, Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is an infectious viral disease that can occur in humans and other animals... The illness is usually mild, and most of infected individuals recover within a few weeks without treatment.)
From ArsTechnica: Mpox outbreak is an international health emergency, WHO declares
It is the second time in about two years that mpox's spread has spurred the WHO to declare a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), the highest level of alarm for the United Nations health agency. In July 2022, the WHO declared a PHEIC after mpox cases had spread across the globe, with the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe, primarily in men who have sex with men. The outbreak was caused by clade II mpox viruses, which, between the two mpox clades that exist, is the relatively mild one, causing far fewer deaths. As awareness, precautions, and vaccination increased, the outbreak subsided and was declared over in May 2023.
Unlike the 2022–2023 outbreak, the current mpox outbreak is driven by the clade I virus, the more dangerous version that causes more severe disease and more deaths. Also, while the clade II virus in the previous outbreak unexpectedly spread via sexual contact in adults, this clade I outbreak is spreading in more classic contact patterns, mostly through skin contact of household members and health care workers. A large proportion of those infected have been children.
To date, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the virus is endemic, has reported more than 22,000 suspected mpox cases and more than 1,200 deaths since the start of January 2023. In recent months, the outbreak has spilled out into multiple neighboring countries, including Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda.
Now, of course the UN wants the W.H.O. not to lose relevance after "recent events" (ahem) so they make sure the news 'attends and reports' their declarations...
On Tuesday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared a similar emergency. Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya said the declaration will "mobilize our institutions, our collective will, and our resources to act—swiftly and decisively. This empowers us to forge new partnerships, strengthen our health systems, educate our communities, and deliver life-saving interventions where they are needed most."
But the essentially identical declaration wasn't "newsworthy" until the W.H.O. said it.... government's need to think on that, as they open their taxpayer checkbooks for the next W.H.O. installment of financial support.
