Janice R. Andrews
Baltimore — The World Health Organization (WHO) has deemed a global health emergency because to the fast spread of monkeypox, or mpox, throughout Africa. Given that this year over a dozen African countries have reported confirmed cases, medical professionals are becoming concerned that the virus may be able to travel over international borders.
The worst epidemic is presently occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where things are getting out of hand. The urgency was underlined by Johns Hopkins infectious disease expert Amesh Adalja, who said, “In certain countries, like the Democratic Republic of Congo, it has become out of control.”
The mumps virus, which may cause fever, chills, body pains, and lesions, made news around the world in 2022 when outbreaks happened in over 70 nations, including the US. Since skin-to-skin contact is the main way that the virus spreads, vaccination is the most efficient form of protection.
“During the prior outbreak of mpox in the United States, only about 25% of the at-risk population was vaccinated,” stated Adalja. “There are still many people who need to get vaccinated, particularly those who only received one dose and need a second.”
Although there is still little risk to the general population, scientists predict occasional imported instances. However, because vaccinations and treatments are rare in Africa, the main focus is on maintaining coordination and resource distribution in that region.
“The goal here is not to raise unnecessary alarm in the United States but to ensure that Africa receives the necessary resources, such as vaccines, to combat the outbreak,” Adalja said.
Health experts advise those who are in at-risk communities to be vaccinated as the situation develops in order to stop the virus from spreading.
