The Mpox virus is currently spreading in several African countries. Last week, 1,200 new suspected or confirmed infections were registered. There are three different subspecies.
Since the beginning of the year, a total of 18,737 cases have been registered on the continent, several thousand more than in the entire previous year. As reported, the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared the highest alert level due to the spread of the new Mpox variant 1b in several African countries. The disease was known for decades as monkeypox and can be transmitted from animals, but also from person to person through close physical contact.
Symptoms include pox-like pustules on the skin, fever and body aches (see video above). In the Democratic Republic of Congo, 24 people died last week from a 1b infection.
Case in Sweden
Sweden on Thursday became the first country in Europe to report a case of the same variant. The patient is a traveler returning from the affected part of Africa.
Vaccine manufacturers “really need to ramp up production so that we have access to many, many more vaccines,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said Friday. The agency is already in contact with the Japanese government to facilitate the distribution of vaccine doses. In addition, Danish-German vaccine manufacturer Bavarian Nordic has a stockpile of 500,000 doses.
Aid agencies called on manufacturers to lower their prices or donate doses at all, as they were unaffordable for most African countries.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
