Monkeypox

2024 - 8 - 15

Mpox: The Monkey Business You Didn't See Coming!

monkey pox -- mpox Democratic Republic of Congo - Global health crisis - Infectious diseases - Monkeypox - Mpox variant - Public health emergency - WHO - monkey pox - mpox

Get the scoop on why monkeypox has become everyone's new favourite conversation starter – and spoiler alert: it's not because it's cute!

In a surprising twist that’s left many scratching their heads, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared monkeypox, now officially known as mpox, a global public health emergency for the second time in just two years. This alarming decision comes in the wake of a significant outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that’s been spreading like wildfire to neighbouring countries. With the WHO's declaration, the spotlight is undeniably on Africa, where mpox has been silently simmering while most of the world was focused on other health crises.

Despite the pandemic fatigue that many are feeling, mpox has never really gone away. Its quiet resurgence is alarming health experts as new variants emerge, showcasing an unexpected lethality that has caught the attention of WHO officials and the public alike. As the spread continues, there is a mounting sense of urgency among health professionals to address the situation swiftly! What was once thought to be a distant issue is now front and centre, leaving us to wonder what other surprises 2024 has in store.

The WHO chief recently warned about the presence of different clades of the mpox virus, reiterating the need for global monitoring and preparation as the world continues to battle its share of health problems. The rise in cases has become a point of concern not only in the Democratic Republic of Congo but also across a dozen other African countries, prompting the WHO to take action so that no one gets caught off guard. This declaration marks the first time that an outbreak has been labeled a continental emergency, highlighting the potentially larger implications for global health.

It’s not just a rising number of cases that’s perplexing scientists; it's the age-old virus’s facelift as new variants wreak havoc. The WHO has noted that the new variant poses a high fatality risk, and as much as it may sound like a thriller movie plot, this is real life! As the world wrestles with one health issue after another, like a game of whack-a-mole, the re-emergence of mpox proves that vigilance and readiness are more vital than ever.

And just to keep you intrigued, did you know that the name 'mpox' is a modern take on an age-old disease, changing from ‘monkeypox’ to reduce stigma? It reflects a broader understanding of how diseases circulate beyond any species! Interestingly, this isn’t the first global health emergency to be declared by the WHO. In fact, they’ve been sounding the alarm since 2009 on various diseases, proving that sometimes it’s not just the content of your newsfeed that keeps you awake at night, but also the health headlines! A wild world of viruses and a health-conscious society – it’s a reality check, and maybe it's time we paid attention!

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Image courtesy of "FRANCE 24"

WHO declares monkeypox a global public health emergency (FRANCE 24)

Following a major outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that quickly spread to neighbouring countries, the WHO's highest level of alert will allow for ...

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Image courtesy of "Vox"

Mpox never stopped spreading in Africa. Now it's an international ... (Vox)

It is the first time the agency has designated any outbreak a continental emergency. Other African countries are also facing resurging mpox outbreaks caused by ...

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Image courtesy of "EL PAÍS in English"

WHO declares second international health emergency over spread ... (EL PAÍS in English)

The organization has taken the measure due to the expansion of an apparently more lethal variant of the virus in Africa, which declared its first-ever ...

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Image courtesy of "UN News"

WHO chief warns of outbreaks of different clades of mpox virus (UN News)

The chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) briefed an emergency committee meeting of the international health regulations body on Wednesday over the ...

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Image courtesy of "NPR"

WHO declares 2024 mpox surge is 'a public health emergency of ... (NPR)

Cases of mpox — previously called monkeypox — have been surging in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In recent weeks, cases have appeared in nearby African ...

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Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

W.H.O. Declares Mpox Outbreak in African Countries a Global ... (The New York Times)

The epidemic is concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the virus has now appeared in a dozen other African countries.

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Image courtesy of "Hindustan Times"

WHO declares Monkeypox a global health emergency for the ... (Hindustan Times)

WHO classifies monkeypox as a global health emergency for the second time in two years due to a new, highly contagious strain spreading in Africa.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

WHO declares Mpox global health emergency (BBC News)

Scientists are alarmed at the high fatality rate and rapid spread of a new variant of the virus.

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Image courtesy of "World Health Organization"

WHO Director-General declares mpox outbreak a public health ... (World Health Organization)

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has determined that the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing ...

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Image courtesy of "NBC News"

WHO declares mpox a global public health emergency for second ... (NBC News)

The declaration followed an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighboring countries.

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

WHO declares mpox outbreak a global health emergency (CNN)

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency.

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Image courtesy of "Livemint"

Monkeypox is now public health emergency of international concern ... (Livemint)

World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has determined that the rising cases of mpox in African countries have made ...

No threat of monkeypox spread in Russia: authorities (新华网)

MOSCOW, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Russian authorities confirmed on Thursday that there is no threat of monkeypox spreading in the country.

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Image courtesy of "World Economic Forum"

Monkeypox is spreading – here's what you need to know (World Economic Forum)

The WHO has declared monkeypox as a “public health emergency of international concern" (PHEIC), designed to prompt a coordinated international response.

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Image courtesy of "The Indian Express"

WHO declares monkeypox a public health emergency of global ... (The Indian Express)

It is a self-limiting viral infection caused by an orthopoxvirus and causes fever, enlarged lymph nodes and a painful rash that forms blisters and then crusts ...

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Image courtesy of "Livemint"

WHO declares mpox a global health emergency — Key facts about ... (Livemint)

Mpox spreads through direct contact with infectious lesions, contaminated objects, and animal interactions. Symptoms include rashes, fever, ...

WHO Declares Monkeypox a Global Health Emergency | Newswise (Newswise)

Monkeypox has been declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization. This comes after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of.

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Image courtesy of "Morocco World News"

WHO Declares Monkeypox Outbreak a Global 'Public Health ... (Morocco World News)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the recent upsurge of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and ...

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Image courtesy of "Surinenglish.com"

Spain on alert as WHO declares international health emergency ... (Surinenglish.com)

The disease, which is spreading with a new, more transmissible variant, has already resulted 15000 infections and 461 deaths during 2024.

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Image courtesy of "Telegraph.co.uk"

New monkeypox strain reaches Europe as Sweden reports first case (Telegraph.co.uk)

Clade 1 was likely to be linked to “a higher rise of a more severe course of disease and higher mortality,” the Swedish public health agency said. The patient ...

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Image courtesy of "Turkiye"

Racist origins of name 'monkeypox' and current situation in Türkiye (Turkiye)

In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) made the significant decision to rename the disease known as monkeypox to "mpox." This decision was not just.

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Image courtesy of "RNZ"

Monkeypox: Why has the WHO declared mpox a global health ... (RNZ)

By Olivia Willis of ABC. Mpox (previously monkeypox) virus particles, illustration. (Photo by SERGII IAREMENKO/. Mpox virus particles.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

WHO declares Mpox global health emergency (BBC News)

Scientists are alarmed at the high fatality rate and rapid spread of a new variant of the virus.

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Image courtesy of "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel"

When was mpox, caused by monkeypox, last reported in Wisconsin? (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

WHO declared the disease a global public health threat for the second time in two years this week.

Expert Available: WHO Declares Monkeypox a Global | Newswise (Newswise)

According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 96% of all cases and deaths are in Congo. More than 500 people have died. The ...

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Image courtesy of "Axios"

What to know about the new mpox strain and global health emergency (Axios)

The patient has received treatment in Stockholm after contracting the virus in a part of Africa where the new strain is currently circulating, the agency noted.

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Image courtesy of "NBC News"

Sweden confirms first case of mpox strain circulating in Africa (NBC News)

Sweden said Thursday that it had confirmed a first case of the version of mpox currently circulating in central and eastern Africa.

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Image courtesy of "Times of India"

​Monkeypox declared global public health emergency: What is it ... (Times of India)

On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared monkeypox as a global threat. The WHO flagged it as a PHEIC or public health emergency of ...

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Image courtesy of "Times of India"

Monkeypox virus detected in Pakistan: 3 cases identified so far (Times of India)

Three individuals arriving from the UAE were diagnosed with monkeypox in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and quarantined. The World Health Orga.

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Image courtesy of "Geo News"

Three monkeypox cases 'confirmed' in Pakistan (Geo News)

ISLAMABAD: At least three patients have been diagnosed with the monkeypox virus in Pakistan, health authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa confirmed on Friday.

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Image courtesy of "Business Standard"

After Sweden, Pakistan logs suspected case of deadly mpox virus ... (Business Standard)

Mpox cases latest: Before Pakistan, the first international case of this virus in 2024 was detected in Sweden a day ago, triggering fears of its potential ...

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