The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said the number of cases of mpox has increased by more than 45,000 since the beginning of the year. During an online media briefing, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Cassia said that since the beginning of this year, a total of 45,327 monkeypox cases have been reported in 18 African countries, of which 9,114 were confirmed, while the number of deaths has passed the 1,000 mark. Has crossed. ,

Kassia also said that last week alone, the African continent reported 2,729 new cases, of which 1,001 were confirmed, and 36 new deaths were recorded. 96 percent of all newly confirmed cases are from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi.

Africa CDC data shows that 85.5 percent of all reported cases and 99.5 percent of deaths were recorded in the Central Africa region. In mid-August, the Africa CDC declared the ongoing mPox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency. Shortly thereafter, the World Health Organization (WHO) also declared MPOX a public health emergency of international concern.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It is a zoonotic disease and was first found in monkeys. Hence it was named monkeypox. MPox usually causes a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, and fever. While most people recover from the condition, some may become very ill.

This virus spreads from one person to another through touch, kissing or sex. However, it is usually spread from animals while hunting, skinning, or cooking them. It can also be spread through contaminated bedsheets, clothing or needles and from infected pregnant mothers to their unborn babies.

symptoms of mpox

Symptoms of mpox start appearing within 21 days of contracting the virus. Symptoms may include flu, sore throat, runny or blocked nose, and cough. Other symptoms of MPOX include:

• swollen lymph nodes
• fever and chills
• Headache
• backache
• feeling very tired
• Muscle aches and back pain.

The Mayo Clinic says that about 1 to 4 days after flu-like symptoms, people usually develop a skin rash. Often, the herpes rash first appears on the face, arms, or legs and then spreads to other parts of the body. The rash may also begin in the genital area, mouth, or throat. There may be several rash spots, a few spots, or just one.

How is mpox spread,

The virus that causes mpox can spread from animals to humans or from person to person. This virus can spread from one person to another in the following ways:

• Direct contact with the rashes, scabs, or body fluids of a person with chickenpox
• close, face-to-face contact, intimate activities, and sexual contact
• Contact with clothing or objects that have touched the rash or body fluids of a person with mumps
• A pregnant person who gets mpox can pass the virus to an unborn baby.
• The virus can also spread to humans through direct contact with an infected animal, including:
• animal bite or scratch
• coming into contact with animal waste or body fluids
• In places where Mpox regularly spreads, animals are processed for food, including hunting or trapping, skinning, cooking, or eating.

(With inputs from IANS)

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