WHO Alerts the Rise in Monkeypox
Source- WHO sounds highest alarm level for monkeypox | World News,The Indian Express
WHO declared a global emergency, on the quick spread of monkeypox outbreak as an “extraordinary event”. They have warned it will have a rapid spread in more countries and requires global response.
WHO declared, “Public Health Emergency of International Concern”, on Saturday at its highest alarm. The same declaration was used in January 2020, during the outbreak of Covid-19.
Monkeypox is a viral infection which gets transmitted from animals to humans. Previously smallpox vaccines were used for the eradication of several diseases along with protection from monkeypox. The virus is endemic in parts of West and Central Africa. The first human case was traced in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The virus spreads from person to person via close contact with the patient affected with the virus. The scientists are also looking if the virus also gets transmitted sexually, with cases diagnosed among men who have intercourse with men.
The symptoms include, fever, back pain, headache, low energy, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes along with pox that last for two to three weeks. The diseases can lead to death of children and those who have low immune system. The complications include, pneumonia, secondary skin infection, confusion and eye problems.
Though the threat level is moderate across the world, Europe has the high rate of the virus now. More than 16,000 cases have been reported across 75 countries. 3 cases have been reported from Kerala, India, with the Union Health Ministry issuing guidelines. Prior to this week the ministry strictly guided to look over the screening of international travelers and coordinate with agencies like the immigration department at the international ports and airports. This has been conducted to ensure the health screening process and linkages with hospital facilities tagged to each port pf entry.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a press conference said that, according to the assessment made by WHO, the risk of monkeypox is globally low, except Europe where the risk is high. He said there are chances of further spread but for now the risk of interference in international traffic is low. The outbreak will be rapid with new modes of transmission. He added, “For all of these reasons, I have decided that the global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern”.
Last month 47 countries reported 3,040 cases. The Emergency Committee, under the International Health Regulations, which met on Thursday to review the numbers did not reach the consensus to announce public health emergency.
WHO declared the meeting of three criteria based on the reported cases from the several countries which mentions, situation that is sudden, unusual and unexpected, looks into public health beyond the borders of affected states and require immediate international action, human health at risk, international spread and interference with international traffic.
So far as informed, five people have died from the infection.
WHO informed that this is the seventh time the highest alarm is being used since 2009. The pre-instances: H1N1 pandemic (2009), increasing polio cases (2014), Ebola outbreak in Western Africa (2014), Zika virus pandemic (2015-16), Kizu Ebola epidemic in Democratic Republic of Congo (2018-19) and Covid-19.
Dr. Rosamund Lewis, WHO’s lead expert in the monkeypox cases said, the virus has been changing since years with longer chains of transmission. She said after Covid 19 when people got chance to travel, the virus fed on the physical and sexual contact. The disease also spreads rapidly with multiple sexual contact over a period of few days or weeks. Adding, she said that this is a traditional population with proactive health seeking behavior.
