NEW YORK, Aug 20 (IPS) – On August 15, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq told a press conference at United Nations headquarters that the Mpox epidemic is continuing to increase in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is spreading across Africa. The alarming frequency of these cases is a global health problem. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is an epidemic that has increased exponentially in severity over the past two years. Originating in Central Africa in 1970, infection rates have increased significantly since late 2023, with a new variant of the infection, known as clade 1 Mpox, infecting more than 17,000 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These cases have caused increasing alarm, so much so that the World Health Organization has declared Mpox a global public health emergency. Shortly after this declaration, the first case of clade 1 Mpox was reported in Sweden, greatly increasing global concern that a global epidemic is underway.
Mpox, once considered a primary concern only for the Democratic Republic of Congo, has begun to spread to neighboring countries and the number of deaths from infection has increased. World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “The emergence of a new clade of Mpox, its rapid spread in eastern DRC and the reporting of cases in several neighboring countries are very worrying. Along with outbreaks of other Mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it is clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.” It is imperative that the world understands the seriousness of the Mpox epidemic and mobilizes resources to stop the infection rate and provide widespread access to treatment.
While most deaths have remained in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reports of infection have increased dramatically in Burundi, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, and the Republic of Congo. There have even been reports of Mpox spreading in small doses across Asian borders to Taiwan, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Interestingly, the World Health Organization had organized an effort to combat the 2022-2023 Mpox outbreak for a different clade, and by the time that effort was completed, another clade had emerged and begun infecting people across Africa.
This earlier development shows that a long-term effort is needed to combat Mpox, as it is a disease that is resistant to change and will continue to evolve. Dr Tedros states that “stopping these outbreaks requires a tailored and comprehensive response, with communities at the centre, as always”. Therefore, it is necessary to adapt these changes accordingly and continue to treat Mpox with the seriousness it deserves.
Recently, the Director-General authorized the emergency distribution of the vaccine in low-income countries. This is a crucial first step, as Mpox cases are most prevalent in underdeveloped or developing countries in Africa. Moreover, it is important to target the countries of greatest concern first to stop the spread to other parts of the world.
Currently, the World Health Organization has made specific efforts to combat Mpox. One example of this is that WHO has released $1.4 million from their emergency fund to combat this epidemic, and expects to release more in the coming weeks. In addition, WHO is working with vaccine manufacturers around the world to find the most effective and accessible treatments. Furthermore, there is a focus on surveillance of the disease and how many people are infected. This will be especially crucial in the process of combating Mpox, as the number of people infected is currently only approximate, as many cases are still unreported. While the current efforts by WHO are a step in the right direction, much more action is needed to eradicate the Mpox epidemic. It is important that donors contribute to this effort, as WHO estimates that approximately $15 million will be needed for their multi-step plan.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
