The World Health Organisation on Wednesday declared a public health emergency of international concern for the current mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries.
It is the second time the global health agency has issued an emergency on the virus in two years, after an outbreak spread in non-endemic countries in the West in 2022.
“Today, the emergency committee met and advised me that, in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice,” WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
He said the organisation has recorded more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths this year.
“The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern DRC, its detection in neighbouring countries that had not previously reported mpox and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” Dr Tedros said.
The current outbreak is centred around the DRC, where cases have "increased significantly" since the global spread across more than 100 countries in 2022.
There were more than 100,000 cases recorded and vaccine programmes were introduced. The declaration of public concern ended in 2023.
The current outbreak could be more of a threat because of a more transmissible and deadlier mpox clade 1, and its new mutated variant called clade 1b.
The WHO's decision follows a continental health emergency declared by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday.
The declaration of a public health emergency of international concern is the highest level of alarm the WHO can issue, and it opens up funding and other resources to help health authorities contain the virus.
The emergency committee said it was concerned that mpox could "spread beyond Africa to other regions of the world", chair Dimie Ogoina said during the briefing.
He said the committee will soon issue recommendations on next steps.
“It's clear that a co-ordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives,” Dr Tedros said.
He announced that the agency has released $1.5 million from the contingency fund for emergencies and called on global partners to contribute.
Dr Tedros said the WHO is "on the ground working with the affected countries and others at risk".
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, spreads through close contact and sexual activity, as well as by interacting with items used by an infected person.
The viral infection causes flu-like symptoms and sometimes painful, pus-filled body lesions. It can be treated with antiviral medication and prevented through a two-dose vaccine regimen.
However, African countries where the virus is endemic have not had enough access to the vaccine.
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TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
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EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
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Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
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Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
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Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
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