James Gallagher, Health and science correspondent
Simi Jolaoso, Africa correspondent
Dated Wednesday, 14 August 2024, 20:16 BST. Excerpts:
WHO declares mpox global health emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the mpox outbreak in parts of Africa a public health emergency of international concern.
The highly contagious disease - formerly known as monkeypox - has killed at least 450 people during an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It has now spread across parts of central and east Africa, and scientists are concerned about how fast a new variant of the disease is spreading and its high fatality rate.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond "is very worrying".
"A co-ordinated international response is essential to stop this outbreak and save lives," he said.
On Tuesday, scientists from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared a public health emergency.
The head of the organisation, Jean Kaseya, warned that this current outbreak could spiral out of control if immediate steps were not taken to contain it.
"We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat," he said.
Full story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg35w27gzno
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What is mpox and how is it spread?
Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, swellings, back pain and aching muscles.
Once the fever breaks, a rash can develop, often beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the body, most commonly the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
The rash, which can be extremely itchy or painful, changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off. The lesions can cause scarring.
The infection usually clears up on its own and lasts between 14 and 21 days.
Serious cases can see lesions attack the whole of the body, and especially the mouth, eyes and genitals.
How is it spread?
Mpox spreads from person to person through close contact with someone who is infected - including through sex, skin-to-skin contact and talking or breathing close to another person.
The virus can enter the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract or through the eyes, nose or mouth.
It can also be spread through touching objects which have been contaminated by the virus, such as bedding, clothing and towels.
Close contact with infected animals, such as monkeys, rats and squirrels, is another route.
During the global outbreak in 2022, the virus spread mostly through sexual contact.
The current outbreak from DR Congo is being driven by sexual contact, but has also been found in other communities.
Full story at BBC News, 24 June 2024: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxww2dxr3mko
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