Jump in Mpox-Infections in Congo - WHO fears spread
Already before the recently announced drastic increase, the World Health Organization (WHO) had expressed concern that Monkeypox could spread beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is a virus disease that can be transmitted from infected animals to humans. The WHO renamed it from monkeypox to prevent stigmatization in 2022.
Monkeypox viruses were originally spread mainly among rodents in West and Central Africa. Transmission from person to person is also possible, for example during sex. Monkeypox infections usually run milder than smallpox, which has been eradicated for about 40 years. However, severe courses and fatalities can also occur. Typical symptoms of the disease include fever and pustules on the skin.
In May 2022, the disease began to spread outside Africa, mainly in Europe. The majority of those affected were men who have sex with men. The WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern, like with Corona, in May 2023, which ended in May 2023. However, there are still occasional infection cases in several countries today.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier voiced apprehensions about Monkeypox-Infections potentially jumping after its confinement within the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite being a virus disease primarily associated with rodents in West and Central Africa, the virus can also spread from infected humans to others, particularly during intimate contacts. The World Health Organization renamed the disease in 2022 to discourage stigmatization, aiming to prevent misconceptions. Despite the World Health Organization declaring a public health emergency of international concern in May 2023, Monkeypox infections continue to be reported sporadically in several countries, highlighting the need for ongoing vigilance and measures to curb its spreading ascent.
