Mpox Declared Ongoing Health Emergency by WHO Amid Growing Cases

Mpox Declared Ongoing Health Emergency by WHO Amid Growing Cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that mpox remains a public health emergency of international concern, citing the rising number of cases and challenges in responding effectively across countries. The outbreak continues to disproportionately affect Africa, with over 46,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 deaths reported.

Despite the WHO’s urgent call for a global response, there seems to be a glaring contradiction in the way different regions are handling the mpox crisis. On one hand, Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), remains at the epicenter, with more than 50,000 people vaccinated in high-risk areas. On the other hand, countries like Canada are only now beginning to acknowledge the virus, with the first case of Clade I mpox confirmed this week. In a continent with vast experience battling infectious diseases, why is there such a delay in tackling the outbreak in wealthier nations? The WHO’s approval of a second vaccine for emergency use only highlights the continuing struggle to contain the virus, raising questions about the effectiveness and speed of the global health response.

What do you think about the global response to the mpox outbreak? Should wealthier countries act faster to prevent the spread, or is it a matter of logistical and medical challenges that are beyond their control? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Source:Africa News