Mpox virus latest: WHO calls for $135 million fund to stop outbreaks as new strain mutating rapidly
Scientists “don’t understand” the latest outbreak of the Clade Ib Mpox variant
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for $135 million funding to combat the Mpox strain outbreak, which scientists say is mutating “more rapidly” than expected.
On August 14, the organisation declared an Mpox-related global health emergency for the second time in two years.
Speaking to WHO member states, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the latest outbreak “can be controlled and can be stopped”.
$135 million of funding will be needed over the next six months to halt the outbreak, an amount which will “likely increase” over time, Mr Ghebreyesus added.
Scientists have expressed concern at the rate at which the current Mpox strain, Clade Ib, is mutating.
Nigerian scientist Dr. Dimie Ogoina said they “don’t understand the outbreak very well”, leading to difficulty in addressing the disease’s transmission and severity.
Seattle-based doctor Dr. Miguel Paredes said the virus is mutating “more rapidly than we would expect”.
Democratic Republic of Congo has faced the brunt of the outbreak, which has also spread to Burundi, Central African Republic, Rwanda, and Uganda.
The UK is readying itself after Sweden reported Europe’s first case of the deadly variant. Three days ago, Thailand confirmed Asia’s first suspected case of the variant.
Pictured: Pakistan prepares hospital wards for mpox outbreak
Asia ramps up border controls amid new variant concerns
Countries across Asia are ramping up their defenses against mpox following the detection of a potentially more dangerous variant.
Thailand has reported its first suspected case of the new clade 1b variant, prompting a swift action from regional health authorities.
Asian nations are intensifying surveillance and preventive efforts. The rapid spread of the new mpox strain in Africa led the World Health Organisation to declare a public health emergency last week.
South Korea has begun monitoring passengers from high-risk African countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Taiwan has responded by stockpiling vaccines and launching targeted immunisation campaigns for high-risk groups, including healthcare workers.
Pakistan said it is introducing new screening at airports after confirming at least one case of mpox infection.
Watch| Debunked: Anti-Vaxxers claim mpox outbreak is a ‘scandemic’
Debunked: Anti-Vaxxers claim Mpox outbreak is a ‘scandemic’
Conspiracy theorists are branding the recent mpox outbreak a “scamdemic” in a recent social media wave of misinformation. A public health emergency was declared by the World Health Organisation over the outbreak in several African nations, with at least three cases now reported outside of the continent. Mpox can spread through skin-to-skin contact, respiratory droplets, and contact with contaminated materials. Symptoms include a high temperature, headaches and muscle aches. In Africa, the latest strain, branded clade 1b, has a higher mortality rate which ranges from 4-10% compared to the usual rate of 0-11%. Bill Gates, along with other Big Pharma companies are being falsely accused of falsifying the outbreak to push vaccines for profit, with some even claiming that Covid vaccines caused mpox symptoms. Professor Michael Marks from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine told The Independent: “The vaccination is the most likely component of control. It’s known to be a very safe vaccine, very well tolerated.”
Why has the WHO declared a global emergency?
Mpox was first detected in humans in the DRC in 1970 and is considered endemic to countries in Central and West Africa.
However, WHO said the recent surge of cases in DRC and its spread to neighbouring countries constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) on Wednesday.
According to WHO, mpox has been reported in DRC for more than 10 years, with the number of cases increasing steadily over the period.
So far in 2024, there have been more than 15,600 cases of mpox and 537 deaths, which the WHO said exceeds last year’s total.
There have also been 100 lab-confirmed cases of clade 1b in four countries neighbouring the DRC that have not reported mpox before: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.
Airline pilots in countries hit by mpox urged to ‘familiarise’ with virus
Airline pilots operating to countries affected by mpox are being urged to “familiarise themselves with the key facts” on the disease, as compiled by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
A bulletin has been issued by the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (Ifalpa), saying: “The WHO has just determined that the upsurge of Mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, following the emergence and rapid spread of a new virus strain.
“Several outbreaks of mpox have occurred in different countries, with different modes of transmission and different levels of risk.”
Pilots have been told to read up on transmission, signs and symptoms, treatment, vaccination, self-care and prevention.
Ifalpa says: “The WHO does not recommend any international travel restriction measures at this time.”
Thailand officials monitoring 43 individuals in contact with mpox patient
Authorities are monitoring 43 individuals who may have been in contact with the patient.
“We have done a test and they definitely have mpox and it’s definitely not Clade 2,” Mr Thongchai was quoted as saying by AFP.
“We are convinced the person has the Clade 1 variant, but we have to wait to see the final result in the lab for two more days.”
Thailand previously detected 800 cases of the Clade 2 variant but not any of Clade 1 or Clade 1b.
Meanwhile, the European traveller has been quarantined, and lab tests are ongoing to confirm the strain.
World Health Organization stresses that mpox is not ‘the new Covid’
A World Health Organization (WHO) official has stressed that mpox is not the new COVID.
The clarification comes as authorities say they know how to control its spread regardless of whether it is the new or old strain.
“We can and must tackle mpox together,” said Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, in a media briefing.
World Health Organization: mpox is not ‘the new Covid’
About 100 new cases of the clade 2 mpox strain are now being reported in the European region every month
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