Breaking news: The monkeypox virus, which has spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the entire African continent, has prompted the WHO to take action. Following Africa, a global public health emergency has been declared this time. A total of 13 countries have reported cases on the continent, with more than 17,000 cases and 517 deaths from monkeypox reported so far this year. These figures represent a 160 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
GHEBREYESUS: IT IS CLEAR THAT INTERVENTION IS A MUST
WHO has declared monkeypox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, with the virus also spreading to Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. “It is clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The global public health emergency is known as the WHO’s highest alert level and aims to accelerate research, funding, international public health measures and cooperation to control a disease.
A “PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY” WAS DECLARED IN AFRICA YESTERDAY DUE TO MONKEYPOX VIRUS
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared a “public health emergency” across the continent yesterday due to the monkeypox virus spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring countries.
Africa CDC said more than 17,000 cases and 517 deaths from monkeypox have been reported on the continent so far this year, representing a 160 percent increase compared to the same period last year. A total of 13 countries in Africa have reported cases.
IS THERE ANY MONKEYPOX VIRUS CASES IN TURKEY?
Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu said in a statement today, “We are following the developments regarding monkeypox and Covid-19. However, we are not currently in any state of alarm.”
It was recently reported that no “monkeypox” cases had been detected in Turkey this year.
MONKEYPOX WAS FIRST DETECTED IN HUMANS IN 1970
Monkeypox has been endemic in parts of Africa for decades after it was first detected in humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970. A milder variant of the virus spread to more than 100 countries in 2022, largely through sexual contact, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global public health emergency, its highest level of alert. The WHO ended the emergency 10 months later, saying the health crisis was under control.
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