The emergence of a new, more lethal strain of the virus, currently spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo since September last year, has intensified concerns.
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement on Thursday, highlighting that monkeypox remains a significant global threat. The monkeypox virus was first identified by scientists in the 1970s. Until recently, cases were mostly confined to Central and West Africa, primarily transmitted from animals to humans. However, in 2022, a global outbreak occurred, spreading predominantly among men. This information was reported by TASR, citing AFP.
The new strain, a mutated version of the original virus, now spreads through human-to-human contact, including heterosexual intercourse, raising fears of a broader epidemic. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, this strain has caused over 11,000 reported infections and 445 deaths so far this year, with many of the victims being children.
WHO reported receiving notifications of cases from 26 countries in the past month alone. During a media briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that South Africa recently recorded 20 cases, including three deaths, marking the country’s first cases since 2022.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s head of pandemic preparedness, emphasized that today’s interconnected world facilitates the spread of such epidemics more easily.
In May 2023, WHO lowered the alert level for monkeypox but continues to call for vigilance to prevent new outbreaks. The organization urges countries to remain cautious and prepared to address the ongoing threat posed by monkeypox.
