Mpox has been documented in DR Congo for ten years. But recently the number of cases has increased significantly, said the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference on Wednesday evening. – Last year, the number of cases increased significantly. And already this year, the number of reported cases has exceeded last year’s total, he said. He emphasized that the WHO has long been concerned about the situation. Last week, an emergency meeting was called. – Today the crisis committee met and advised me that they believe the disease is a public health crisis of international scope, said Tedros. Mpox causes a rash on the back. This boy was infected by the disease, but is now recovering. Photo: Arlette Bashizi / Reuters Spreading to new countries The announcement did not come as a surprise to everyone. – We have expected this to happen, says Preben Aavitsland, specialist director at the Institute of Public Health to news. The reason is the increase in infection and the spread to other countries. The DR Congo in Central Africa is particularly hard hit. According to the WHO, more than 14,000 cases and more than 500 deaths have been registered this year. Cases have also been registered in several neighboring countries. In Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, no cases have been registered previously. Also in the summer of 2022, the WHO declared that the outbreak of mpox was an international public health crisis in the summer of 2022. The declaration was lifted in May 2023, after a significant decrease in the number of cases. According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI), it has not been registered that the disease has spread to Europe. Mpox was formerly called monkeypox. It is a contagious viral disease related to smallpox. The disease is rare in Europe and rarely fatal. Interested in foreign affairs? Listen to the foreign affairs editor’s podcast: Published 14.08.2024, at 19.49 Updated 14.08.2024, at 19.56
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Mpox is an international public health crisis – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
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