Home Headlines WHO Warns of “Concerning” Mpox Situation in Africa as New Variant Emerges

WHO Warns of “Concerning” Mpox Situation in Africa as New Variant Emerges

0
This photo taken on May 21, 2023 shows the logo of the World Health Organization (WHO) with the WHO headquarters in the background in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed deep concern over the ongoing Mpox epidemic in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, and Uganda, with high case counts reported.

As of December 15, Africa has recorded 13,769 confirmed Mpox cases across 20 countries, including 60 deaths.

The DRC remains the epicenter of the outbreak, with 9,513 confirmed cases. Although recent weeks have shown a plateau or decline in case numbers, WHO cautioned that these trends should be interpreted with caution due to potential reporting delays.

The current outbreak features a new and more dangerous variant, clade 1b, which was first detected in the DRC in September 2023. The WHO noted that this variant has spread beyond Africa, with cases reported in Sweden, Thailand, and other countries. The clade 1b strain continues to expand geographically, and WHO officials highlighted the need for further understanding of its transmissibility and the sustainability of its spread.

The mortality rate for the clade 1b strain is estimated at 3.6%, significantly higher than that of previous Mpox strains. Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, can spread through physical contact with infected individuals, contaminated materials, or animals.

As the situation evolves, WHO continues to monitor the outbreak closely, urging caution in interpreting the apparent decline in cases while emphasizing the need for further research on the new variant.

Send your news stories to newsghana101@gmail.com Follow News Ghana on Google News

NO COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

error: Content is protected !!
WP Radio
WP Radio
OFFLINE LIVE
Exit mobile version