 "Mpox is a viral disease that can spread from animals to humans, but also human-to-human through sexual or close physical contact. File Photo/Reuters")
The World Health Organization has issued a global health emergency as mpox spreads across several African countries.
The outbreak, which started in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has claimed at least 450 lives, has now extended to Central and East Africa. The Clade 1B strain is moving beyond the continent, with new cases emerging in Europe and Southeast Asia, including Sweden, Thailand, the Philippines, and Pakistan.
Since 2022, the WHO has reported 99,176 Mpox cases and 208 deaths across 116 countries. But with the recent spike in cases, the UN health body has urged healthcare professionals worldwide to be vigilant in detecting symptoms of monkeypox.
As the crisis deepens, a global health alert has also been triggered. While mpox shares some symptoms with COVID-19, such as coughing and flu-like symptoms, the viruses differ in fundamental ways.
Here’s a closer look
