World Health Organization declares mpox a global health emergency

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00:00The Mpox virus leaves its victims with pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms,

00:05and a new clade of the virus causing a rise in cases has caused the World Health Organization

00:10to declare a global health emergency.

00:13Last year, reported cases increased significantly,

00:17and already the number of cases reported so far this year has exceeded last year's total,

00:23with more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths.

00:29Community transmission has been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi,

00:34but also isolated cases in several other African countries.

00:38Here in Goma in the eastern DRC, the local hospital has seen a steady rise in cases,

00:43but doctors worry they may be only catching a small number.

00:50The fear is perhaps linked to the fact that we isolate people who are ill,

00:55which can push others not to present themselves to a health structure,

00:59knowing they will be isolated.

01:01And this is what can lead to a cascade of infection,

01:04because they will remain in their environment.

01:10Formerly known as Monkeypox, Mpox was first detected in humans in the DRC,

01:15then known as Zaire, in the 1970s.

01:17In 2022, a milder strain spread to over 100 countries,

01:21causing the World Health Organization to set off its highest alert,

01:25but the current situation is more severe.

01:43There are currently two vaccines in use for Mpox.

01:46The World Health Organization is working with countries and vaccine manufacturers

01:50on potential vaccine donations.

01:52It envisages an initial outlay of 15 million dollars being required

01:56to fund surveillance and response.

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