New global health emergency: What is mpox, where are the outbreaks, what's being done? | AP Explains

(15 Aug 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dakar, Senegal - 14 August 2024
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sam Mednick, The Associated Press: ++PARTIALLY OVERLAID WITH SHOT 2 TO 10++
"The World Health Organization has declared mpox outbreaks in Congo and other African countries a global health emergency. Here's what we know. Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease that spreads through close contact. It's from the same family as smallpox, but the symptoms are a little bit less, such as body aches, fevers, as well as chills. More than 500 people have died from the virus and thousands of people have been infected. This is more than 160% increase of cases from the same time last year, and nearly a 20% increase in the number of deaths. There's more than a dozen countries affected, but Congo has the majority of the cases. It's impacted adults as well as children, and there are a growing number of children than ever before that are being hit by the virus, say health officials. There's also a new strain of the virus that is emerging and has people very concerned. There is a way to stem mpox, but it requires the use of vaccines and health officials say there are not enough vaccines on the African continent. The declaration by the World Health Organization, the hope is that it pushes donors and countries into action to send more money, resources as well as vaccines to countries in Africa."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Goma, Congo – 14 August 2024
2. Medic pushing a stretcher in front of a health center
3. Women walking inside health center
4. Close of poster asking people to keep their distance from each other
5. Doctors walking in the health center
6. Military vehicle, people crossing street
STORYLINE:
Inside a health center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, medical teams are working hard to identify monkeypox patients as the number of cases in the city continues to rise by the day.

The World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreaks in Congo and elsewhere in Africa a global emergency on Wednesday, with cases confirmed among children and adults in more than a dozen countries and a new form of the virus spreading.

Earlier this week, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the mpox outbreaks were a public health emergency, with more than 500 deaths, and called for international help to stop the virus’ spread.

“From Friday (9 August) to today, we're up to nine confirmed cases of monkey pox. People who come with suspicious lesions, we isolate them first, then take the sample.”, Dr. Rachel Maguru, General Practitioner at Goma Provincial Hospital and Head of the Multi-Epidemic Center, said.

Dr Maguru noted that the medical staff were worried those with symptoms could refrain from coming to the hospital as the infected are taken into isolation.

"This is what can lead to a cascade of infection because they will remain in their environment,” she said.

Earlier this year, scientists reported the emergence of a new form of the deadlier form of mpox, which can kill up to 10% of people, in a Congolese mining town that they feared might spread more easily. Mpox mostly spreads via close contact with infected people, including through sex.

Unlike in previous mpox outbreaks, where lesions were mostly seen on the chest, hands and feet, the new form causes milder symptoms and lesions on the genitals. That makes it harder to spot, meaning people might also sicken others without knowing they’re infected.


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