Mpox Declared Global Health Emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has just announced that the spread of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is now a global health emergency. This comes after a worrying increase in cases, particularly in Africa.

Mpox has two main groups known as clade 1 and clade 2. Clade 2 was mainly behind the outbreak seen in 2022, but now, a variant of clade 1 has begun spreading internationally, having originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo in January 2023.

In his declaration, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for countries to work together to tackle this issue and save lives. Just last week, there were reports of new cases appearing outside of Africa, raising alarms about the situation.

Countries in Asia are taking swift action. In China, authorities have stepped up surveillance at airports to monitor travelers coming in from places with confirmed mpox cases. Now, anyone showing symptoms like fever or rash must declare their condition to customs.

India, meanwhile, is keeping a close watch as the last reported case was back in March. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been monitoring the outbreak, and health teams at international airports have been alerted to stay vigilant.

In Japan, officials recently gathered to discuss their strategy against mpox, agreeing to enhance awareness and data collection from affected countries. Health Minister Keizo Takemi mentioned that Japan is also preparing to send vaccines to the Congo.

Korea is taking a more measured approach, noting that the mpox situation is currently manageable. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is boosting awareness campaigns to encourage anyone with symptoms to seek medical help immediately.