As the world grapples with the monkeypox outbreak, countries with flare-ups of the viral disease have been offering vaccination to contacts of infected people and those in groups considered as being at risk.
At the weekend, the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, the first since Covid-19.
For most people, symptoms such as rashes on the face, palms and other parts of the body, and a fever, are not serious, although individuals with a weakened immune system, pregnant women and children may be more at risk and the disease can prove fatal.
With cases having exceeded 18,000 across 75 countries this year, concerns have been raised about whether will it be possible to control the spread of a disease that, until recently, was largely confined to west and central Africa, with occasional, typically short-lived appearances elsewhere.
Figures compiled by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention show that America has recorded more than 3,800 cases this year, with Spain at more than 3,000 and the UK and Germany reporting more than 2,000 infections.
What difference does declaring a public health emergency make?
The WHO’s decision to name the outbreak a public health emergency is “a warning signal” about the seriousness of the outbreak, said Dr Bharat Pankhania, a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter in the UK.
“It’s an alert, it’s raising a red flag,” he said. “It’s telling everyone we should be doing something about it and all nations with all their expertise should go into action stations.”
Prof Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases specialist and professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia in the UK, said he thought the world could “get on top of” the outbreak.
A reason for this is that the disease is “not that infectious”, with the R number being less than 1.0 among the general population, meaning that one infected person on average passes the infection on to fewer than one other person.
But Prof Hunter said that among men who have sex with men and have multiple partners, the R rate is between 1.4 and 1.8, so many recent cases have been among this group.
Indeed the global outbreak has been driven by patterns of behaviour often linked to dating apps, suggested Prof Ian Jones, professor of virology at the University of Reading in the UK.
“It’s very much a social phenomenon,” he said, adding that there was no indication that the outbreak was due to the virus spreading faster because it had changed.
Drawing a parallel with what happened with HIV, the virus that causes Aids, Dr Pankhania said that monkeypox could go on to spread more widely in the general population if the current outbreak was not dealt with.
How can the outbreak be controlled?
Health authorities should use contact tracing and vaccination of at-risk groups, including medical staff who may come into contact with cases, according to Dr Pankhania.
One vaccine used against monkeypox is an updated version of an old smallpox vaccine, but this contains a virus that, although weakened, can sometimes cause disease in people with a compromised immune system.
A newer vaccine, called MVA but also known by various brand names, was also originally developed against smallpox.
It is being used by some countries such as the UK and is considered safer because the virus it contains has been more heavily weakened and so is unlikely to cause illness, although there are reported supply constraints.
“You can get at least 70 to 75 per cent protection, which is better than nothing and pretty good to be honest,” Dr Pankhania said.
Unlike with Covid-19, vaccination programmes need only to concentrate on at-risk groups, rather than the general population, where rates of spread are extremely low.
“There just isn’t a case for mass vaccination,” said Prof Jones, saying that the modest number of cases globally meant a universal campaign was not appropriate.
While there have been concerns expressed that some countries have not done enough to ensure that at-risk groups are vaccinated, Prof Hunter said there was evidence that spread may have peaked.
Even if the current outbreak is stamped out, monkeypox is likely to continue to emerge periodically across the world because in West and Central Africa — but not outside these regions — rodents are a “reservoir” for the disease and can spread the virus to people who are bitten or who eat uncooked meat.
“There’s always a risk they could have an outbreak that spills into the high-risk group again,” Prof Hunter said.
Vaccination campaigns under way
The UK's National Health Service is stepping up its monkeypox vaccination programme.
Health officials said 100,000 more doses of an effective immunisation had been bought.
The EU signed an agreement in June for the supply of about 110,000 doses of the Imvanex shot, known as Jynneos in the US.
Imvanex is currently authorised in the EU for the prevention of Smallpox in adults and has been recommended for use against monkeypox by the European Medicines Agency.
The US has delivered 300,000 vaccine doses and is working on the delivery of close to 800,000 more.
CREW
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Semi-final fixtures
Portugal v Chile, 7pm, today
Germany v Mexico, 7pm, tomorrow
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
FIXTURES
Fixtures for Round 15 (all times UAE)
Friday
Inter Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Saturday
Atalanta v Verona (6pm)
Udinese v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Juventus (11.45pm)
Sunday
Lecce v Genoa (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (6pm)
SPAL v Brescia (6pm)
Torino v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Parma (9pm)
Bologna v AC Milan (11.45pm)
Race card
1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m.
2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m.
2.45pm: Handicap Dh95,000 1,200m.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,400m.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,400m.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m.
The National selections:
1.45pm: Galaxy Road – So Hi Speed
2.15pm: Majestic Thunder – Daltrey
2.45pm: Call To War – Taamol
3.15pm: Eqtiraan - Bochart
3.45pm: Kidd Malibu – Initial
4.15pm: Arroway – Arch Gold
4.35pm: Compliance - Muqaatil
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Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
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Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
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Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- Margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars
- Energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- Infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes
- Many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Jebel Ali Dragons 26 Bahrain 23
Dragons
Tries: Hayes, Richards, Cooper
Cons: Love
Pens: Love 3
Bahrain
Tries: Kenny, Crombie, Tantoh
Cons: Phillips
Pens: Phillips 2
