The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the recent surge of monkeypox(Mpox) cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other African nations as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
This decision was made by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, following the advice of an Emergency Committee of independent experts who assessed the situation.
“The emergence of a new clade of mpox, its rapid spread in eastern DRC, and the reporting of cases in several neighboring countries are very worrying,” said Ghebreyesus. “
On top of outbreaks of other mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.”
The declaration comes in response to the rapid spread of a new mpox clade in eastern DRC and the emergence of cases in neighboring countries.
In Dallas County, the Dallas County Health and Human Services have identified and reported multiple cases of mpox.
As of July 29, 2024, there have been 985 total cases of mpox including five deaths.
Of the 985 total cases, 970 are male confirmed cases, and 15 are female.
Mpox is primarily transmitted through close physical contact with an infected person’s sores, scabs, or body fluids.
It can also spread through respiratory droplets during extended face-to-face interactions.
Symptoms may include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, but the severity varies, with some individuals showing mild or no symptoms while still testing positive.
While anyone in close contact with an infected person is at risk, the majority of reported cases so far have involved men who have sex with men and participate in high-risk sexual behaviors according to the DCHHS.
DeSoto Tribune Staff