Mpox Declared a Global Health Emergency for the Second Time
Recent Outbreak in Africa Prompts WHO Decision
Virus Evolving, Spreading Through Heterosexual Populations
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus.
The virus is evolving and the newest version spreads more often through heterosexual populations.
- The WHO had originally declared mpox a global health emergency in July 2022 when the virus was first found to spread through sexual contact.
- The rapid surge of mpox in multiple African countries has prompted the WHO to sound the alarm.
- Mpox has been confirmed in Burundi, one of four countries in Eastern Africa where the disease has surfaced for the first time.
The declaration of a global health emergency is a serious step that signals the need for international action.
It indicates that the WHO considers mpox to be a threat to global public health.
The WHO will now work with countries to coordinate efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent its further spread.
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