Mpox Outbreak: Clade 2 Responsible for Rising Case-Fatality Rate
Multi-Country Outbreak Declared a Public Health Emergency
Thousands of Cases and Deaths Reported Globally
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the global mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. As of July 2022, over 87,000 cases and 140 deaths have been reported from 111 countries worldwide.
The outbreak has been predominantly driven by Clade 2, which has exhibited a higher case-fatality rate than previous clades. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported more than 14,000 cases in Africa since the beginning of the year, with over 140 deaths.
Despite efforts to contain the outbreak, the virus continues to spread, prompting the WHO to issue a global alert. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO's Director-General, emphasized the need for countries to take immediate action to prevent further spread and protect vulnerable populations.
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