CNN, also known as the Cable News Network, is a global news organization that covers a wide range of topics, including breaking news, politics, health, and more. Recently, CNN reported on the World Health Organization declaring the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency. This declaration came after concerns that a deadlier strain of the virus, clade Ib, had spread to four previously unaffected countries in Africa.
The World Health Organization convened its emergency committee to assess the severity of the outbreak and advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Following the consultation, it was announced that a public health emergency of international concern had been declared, which is the highest level of alarm under international health law.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his concern over the rapid spread of the new clade of mpox in eastern DRC and its detection in neighboring countries. He emphasized the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond, highlighting the need for immediate action to contain the outbreak.
The emergency committee unanimously agreed that the current outbreak of mpox is an extraordinary event that poses a public health risk to other countries through the international spread of the disease. This led to the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that can spread easily between people and from infected animals. Symptoms include fever, a painful rash, headache, muscle and back pain, low energy, and enlarged lymph nodes. The disease had previously been found in Central and West Africa but began spreading in Europe and North America in 2022.
The outbreak in Africa has resulted in more than 17,000 cases and over 500 deaths in 13 countries. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified the outbreak as a „very high-risk event“ and declared it a public health emergency of continental security.
To address the outbreak, the World Health Organization has signed off on the Emergency Use Listing process for mpox vaccines and developed a regional response plan requiring $15 million. The organization has released $1.5 million from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support these efforts.
In addition to vaccines, containing the spread of mpox will require increased surveillance, diagnostics, and research to fill gaps in understanding. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, director of WHO’s Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, emphasized the importance of a concerted effort using multiple approaches to stop transmission of the virus.
In conclusion, CNN’s coverage of the mpox outbreak in Africa highlights the urgent need for international cooperation and support to contain the spread of the disease and save lives. The World Health Organization’s declaration of a global health emergency underscores the severity of the situation and the importance of swift and coordinated action to address this public health crisis.
