ammonnews.net

Ammon News - The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency as a deadly new strain of monkeypox (mpox) is spreading through parts of Africa.

This is the second time in just over two years that the WHO has declared mpox — previously known as monkeypox — to be a global emergency.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on Friday raised its risk assessment level for the new mpox strain, saying it is "highly likely" Europe will see new cases crop up.

However, the ECDC noted that the likelihood of sustained transmission of the new strain in Europe remains low.

Sweden's public health agency announced Thursday that it had confirmed the first known case of the new mpox strain outside of Africa.

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.

The WHO issued its first declaration over mpox in July 2022, after the disease had spread to over 70 countries.

Between 2022 and 2023, the outbreak caused more than 99,000 cases and more than 200 deaths, per estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It revoked the emergency status in May 2023, following a steep decline in cases as awareness of the disease increased and vaccines became more readily available.

What makes this mpox strain different?
There are two main strains of mpox, clade I and clade II, according to the CDC.

The clade II strain is endemic to West Africa and fueled the mpox outbreak in 2022. However, cases from clade II are usually less severe and 99.9% of people who contract the strain survive, per the CDC.

However, the new strain, clade I, is endemic to Central Africa and has proven more virulent and deadly than the clade II strain. Some previous outbreaks have killed up to 10% of those infected.

Mpox is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be spread from people to animals. Both strains spread via close contact with an infected person or animal or contact with contaminated materials.
Both strains have similar symptoms, including flu-like symptoms and a rash can initially resemble pimples or blisters.

Where are new mpox cases happening?

The vast majority of current cases are in the DRC, where more than 14,000 cases — and 524 deaths — have been reported so far this year, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday.

However, outbreaks have been reported in 15 countries so far.

This includes four countries that had never previously reported mpox cases — Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, Tedros said.

Axios