Experts are seriously concerned about the new strain of Mpox (formerly known as “Monkeypox”), which is spreading rapidly around the world—from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Sweden—but they claim that, unlike the COVID-19 situation, they know how to control it.
On Tuesday, Hans Kluge, the WHO Director for Europe, stated that the spread of Mpox can be halted and panic avoided through joint, timely efforts, especially by delivering vaccines to the most vulnerable regions. The outbreak of the strain named Clade Ib occurred a few months ago in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where at least 500 people have already died from the disease. As of the end of June, cases were recorded in 116 countries, including the Central African Republic, Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda. In early August, the strain was detected in Sweden, although the number of cases there has not been reported.
There are no Mpox cases in Britain yet, but British scientists warn that although little is known about the Clade Ib strain, available signs suggest it spreads faster and causes a more severe form of the disease than other strains. Experts state that the virus will inevitably continue to spread unless global measures are taken.
Another Mpox strain—Clade II—caused an outbreak in 2022, starting in Europe and spreading to North and South America and other regions. By the end of 2022, 87,000 people across 110 countries had contracted Mpox, with 112 deaths reported.
According to WHO expert Hans Kluge, any Mpox strain can be controlled with non-discriminatory epidemiological measures and vaccine availability. The virus causes chills, fever, rashes, and other skin lesions and spreads through physical contact, including sexual activity.
Vaccine—Yes, Masks—No
Kluge stated that the overall risk to the public remains low. “Are we going to impose quarantine in the European region of WHO, are we dealing with another COVID-19? Absolutely not,” he assured. He recalled that two years ago, Mpox was controlled in Europe through direct interaction with the most affected communities, primarily men who have sex with men.
Currently, about 100 new cases of Clade II are registered each month in Europe. Travelers to affected areas in Africa are advised to consider vaccination. WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said that the WHO does not recommend mass vaccination for Mpox but strongly advises vaccinating large groups in high-risk zones. He also mentioned that wearing masks is not a WHO recommendation for Mpox.
Author: Service of BBC News
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