WHO declared a state of emergency due to the spread of mpox in Africa

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a state of emergency due to the spread of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in Africa. This was reported by Meydan TV.

The virus has spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring countries—Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda—and a state of emergency has been declared.

According to Dr. Jan Kaseya, Director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a relevant contract has already been signed for acquiring vaccines.

Under the agreement, approximately 200,000 doses of vaccine will be rapidly procured and distributed throughout Africa.

What is mpox?

The mpox virus was first discovered in 1958 among monkey colonies. The first human infection occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970.

This virus is not transmitted only by monkeys. The primary carriers are more often rodents and wild animals.

The risk of contracting mpox is mainly through contact with rodents in the forests of West and Central Africa and through bites. Additionally, it is possible to get infected through contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or skin lesions and rashes of infected animals. Consuming poorly prepared meat from infected animals also increases the risk of human infection.