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WHO Declares Global Health Emergency as Mpox Outbreak in DRC Causes 570 Deaths

Aug 19, 2024, 01:49 PM

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global public health emergency due to a severe outbreak of mpox, also known as monkeypox, primarily affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Since the beginning of 2024, the DRC has reported over 16,700 cases and 570 deaths. The outbreak is attributed to a new, more dangerous strain of the virus, Clade 1, which is spreading rapidly across Africa and has been detected in other regions, including a confirmed case in Sweden. The DRC is facing a critical shortage of vaccines, prompting requests for aid from countries like Japan and the United States. The outbreak has spread to 14 African countries, with the DRC and Burundi reporting significant case numbers. In response, several countries, including India and Bangladesh, have heightened surveillance and precautionary measures at airports and borders to prevent further spread. Despite the WHO's emergency declaration, experts suggest that the risk of widespread transmission outside Africa remains low, but vigilance is necessary.