Sweden Reports First Case of mpox Strain outside Africa

-




The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that Sweden became the first country outside of Africa to report a case of the emerging clade I variant of mpox, on August 15, 2024. Due to the rapid spread of clade 1b, a variant of clade 1, the WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). In the United States, mpox has been detected in wastewater at three locations, mainly in California and Illinois, linked to clade II, which was part of the 2022 outbreak. The more dangerous clade I, common in Africa, has not been detected in the US.

Statistics and Spread:


In 2024, over 2,100 confirmed mpox cases and 13 deaths were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and eleven other countries, including Burundi, Cameroon, and Nigeria. This marks a significant increase from the previous year, which saw 1,145 confirmed cases and seven deaths.

Vaccine Development:


In response to the outbreak, the WHO is fast-tracking the Emergency Use Listing (EUL) process for mpox vaccines. This effort aims to make vaccines more accessible to low-income countries that lack national regulatory approval, strengthening global public health defenses against the crisis.

About Mpox:


Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is caused by the mpox virus, part of the Orthopoxvirus genus. It was first identified in 1958 in monkeys used for research. Mpox spreads mainly through close contact with an infected person’s lesions, body fluids, or respiratory droplets. Symptoms include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, lasting 2-4 weeks. Though historically found in Africa, cases surged globally in 2022. The smallpox vaccine offers some protection against mpox, and animals like rodents and primates can also spread the virus.

Facts About World Health Organization


  • WHO: The World Health Organization was started in 1948 and is part of the United Nations, based in Geneva.
  • Members: It has 194 countries working together on health issues around the world.
  • HIV Test: In 1985, WHO approved the first blood test to detect HIV.
  • Smallpox: WHO’s advice helped eliminate smallpox by 1980.
  • World Health Day: Every year, April 7 is celebrated as “World Health Day” by WHO.
  • Antimicrobial Resistance: In 2017, WHO called the problem of bacteria becoming resistant to drugs a global health emergency.
  • Health Rules: WHO manages rules on how countries should respond to public health threats.



#Sweden #mpox #healthnews #virusoutbreak #publichealth #Africa #globalhealth #diseasecontrol #mpoxupdate #epidemic

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

UN Calls for Urgent Action on Rising Sea Levels

-
Image
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Tonga to highlight a serious global issue—rising sea levels. He spoke at the Pacific Islands Forum, emphasizing how quickly sea levels are increasing and the dangers this poses, especially to low-lying nations like Tonga. Understanding Rising Sea Levels Rising sea levels mean that the ocean water is getting higher over time. This is happening faster than ever before, mainly because of climate change. The Pacific region, where Tonga is located, is seeing some of the fastest rises in sea levels, with some places experiencing rates more than twice the global average. The two main reasons for this are: Warmer Oceans: As the ocean water gets warmer, it expands and takes up more space. Melting Ice: Glaciers and ice sheets in places like Antarctica and Greenland are melting, adding more water to the oceans. How Does This Affect Coastal Communities? Rising sea levels have several harmful effects on communities living near the coast, including: Mor
Read more

Breakthrough Study in Catalysis Research Leads Way to a Greener Future

-
Image
Catalysts are the unsung heroes of modern chemistry, powering everything from the creation of life-saving pharmaceuticals to the production of fuels. A team of researchers at Stony Brook University discovered a breakthrough that opens new avenues for designing highly efficient and sustainable catalysts. For the first time, they have been able to directly observe tiny islands of oxidized metals on the surface of nanoparticles, the workhorses that drive countless chemical reactions essential to modern life. “In the field of catalysis, it is the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack,” said Prahlad Routh, a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Materials Sciences and Chemical Engineering and first author of the study recently published in Nature Communications. The corresponding author of the article is Anatoly Frenkel, a professor in the Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering at Stony Brook, who also holds a joint appointment at Brookhaven National
Read more