Whale Large Capital
  • Politics
  • World News
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Politics
  • World News
  • Business
  • Investing

Whale Large Capital

World News

African health officials hopeful mpox shots will start within days as WHO says outbreak is ‘not the new Covid’

by August 22, 2024
August 22, 2024
African health officials hopeful mpox shots will start within days as WHO says outbreak is ‘not the new Covid’

African nations could begin vaccinations against mpox within days, according to the continent’s top public health agency, as a World Health Organization official said the spread of a deadlier strain of the virus could be controlled and “was not the new Covid.”

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is at the epicenter of an mpox outbreak declared a global health emergency last week by WHO, with the deadlier clade Ib strain that is spreading quickly in the country detected in at least four other African nations.

“We didn’t start vaccinations yet. We’ll start in a few days if we are sure that everything is in place. End of next week, vaccines will start to arrive in DRC and other countries,” Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya told a briefing on Tuesday.

The viral disease, formerly known as monkeypox, can spread easily between people and from infected animals through close contact such as touching, kissing or sex, as well as through contaminated materials like sheets, clothing and needles, according to WHO. Symptoms include a fever, a painful rash, headache, muscle and back pain, low energy and enlarged lymph nodes.

Around 1,400 mpox infections have been reported across Africa over the past week, bringing the total number of cases on the continent to nearly 19,000 since the start of the year – up more than 100% on the same period last year, according to the Africa CDC. The latest outbreak has killed more than 500 people, the agency’s latest available data shows.

That’s prompted a scramble for vaccines as health officials in Africa work with overseas partners to meet a massive shortfall of doses.

“We need to have vaccines,” Kaseya told NPR last week. “Today, we are just talking about almost 200,000 doses (becoming) available. We need at least 10 million doses. The vaccine is so expensive — we can put it around $100 per dose. There are not so many countries in Africa that can afford the cost of this vaccine.”

The European Union and Danish vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic have so far pledged support, the European Commission said last week. Japan and the United States have also offered doses, Reuters reported, citing the DRC’s health minister.

‘Not the new Covid’

WHO’s declaration of a global health emergency is the second time in two years that the United Nations health agency has raised the alarm over the spread of mpox, which for decades had been found largely in central and western Africa.

Mpox is characterized by two genetic clades, I and II. A clade is a broad grouping of viruses that has evolved over decades that has distinct genetic and clinical differences.

Clade II was responsible for a global outbreak that was also declared to be a global health emergency from July 2022 to May 2023. But the new outbreak is driven by clade I, which causes more severe disease. The subtype that’s responsible for most of the ongoing spread, clade Ib, is relatively new.

Last week, the first clade lb case outside Africa was confirmed in Sweden in a patient who had recently traveled to the continent.

But with nations worldwide on high alert for the virus, a WHO official on Tuesday played down fears of a new pandemic as he called for a coordinated response to the outbreak.

“Mpox is not the new Covid,” WHO Europe Director Hans Kluge told a press briefing.

While more research is needed on the clade Ib strain, its spread can be controlled, he said.

“We know how to control mpox. And, in the European region, the steps needed to eliminate its transmission altogether,” Kluge said.

“The need for a coordinated response is now greatest in the African region,” he said. “We can, and must, tackle mpox together – across regions and continents.”

Kluge’s comments came as the Philippines and Thailand reported cases of mpox in travelers who had been to Africa. Meanwhile, Argentina’s health ministry said Wednesday that tests carried out on a crew member of a cargo ship that was placed in quarantine were negative for mpox.

This story has been updated with additional information.

This post appeared first on cnn.com
0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Most Americans reject push by Biden, Dems to change Supreme Court: poll
next post
Russia’s Putin and China’s No. 2 official praise deepening ties as Ukraine war grinds on

You may also like

White House says Russia and Ukraine agree to...

March 25, 2025

Satellite images show damaged North Korean warship moved...

June 9, 2025

How the US foreign aid freeze is intensifying...

February 4, 2025

Israeli military detains 6 settlers after attack on...

June 28, 2025

How the ‘Trump factor’ now looms over international...

January 16, 2025

Nicaraguan lawmakers approve reform expanding Ortega’s power

November 22, 2024

Brother of freed Israeli hostage says Hamas captors...

February 26, 2025

Kenyan police deployed to Haiti haven’t received full...

August 26, 2024

Paramilitary forces raid Sudan’s largest refugee camp

February 14, 2025

Lion kills 14-year-old girl outside Kenya’s Nairobi National...

April 20, 2025

    Subscribe today to receive exclusive access to all our retirement secrets and income strategies, including special financial news and updates from our experts. From time to time, our newsletters feature valuable insights and analysis on the latest financial trends. Don't miss out on these exclusive updates – join our subscription to stay informed!


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.



    Latest

    • Probe into Biden’s alleged mental decline cover-up deepens with more former White House officials to testify

      July 2, 2025
    • MAGA law group fights to expose how Biden’s DEI agenda may have tainted life-saving organ transplants

      July 2, 2025
    • Israel accepts Trump-led ceasefire plan that could end Gaza war within 60 days

      July 2, 2025
    • Endangered turtles share this Mexican beach with SpaceX rocket debris. The company says there’s no risk of harm

      July 2, 2025
    • Trump to meet with Netanyahu as he pushes for ceasefire between Israel, Gaza

      July 1, 2025
    • Elon Musk claims of ‘pork’ in bill not even possible, Budget chair says

      July 1, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (701)
    • Investing (661)
    • Politics (4,763)
    • World News (3,149)
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact us
    • About us

    Disclaimer: WhaleLargeCapital.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 WhaleLargeCapital.com | All Rights Reserved