Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), has declared a public health emergency due to the spread of monkeypox.
“I have decided that the global monkeypox epidemic is a public health emergency of international concern,” he said at the organization’s extraordinary meeting (quoted by Reuters).
“We have an epidemic that is spreading rapidly around the world through new modes of transmission that we know little about and that meet the criteria of international health regulations,” said Ghebreyesus.
Currently, more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox infection have been detected in 75 countries around the world, with five cases of the disease fatal.
“Risk [распространения] “Monkeypox is moderate globally and in all regions except Europe, where it is rated highly.”
He also warned that there is a risk of further spread to the world, even if the probability of the outbreak affecting international transport “remains low at the moment”. In addition, Ghebreyesus assured that the world community now has all the tools to contain the epidemic. About half of the countries with reported cases have the necessary vaccines.
The WHO Emergency Committee considered the possibility of declaring a state of emergency in connection with the monkeypox epidemic on 21 July, but ultimately made a negative decision. Ghebreyesus then agreed with him.
Since 2009, WHO has issued six statements on international emergencies: in connection with the swine flu epidemic in 2009, the polio and Ebola epidemics in 2014, the Zika epidemic in 2015-2016, the Kivu epidemic in 2018, and the COVID pandemic. . -19 in 2019-2021.
Is smallpox already in Russia?
With the spread of the virus, Rospotrebnadzor made sure that they kept the situation under tight control. “To date, there have been no new confirmed cases of monkeypox in Russia,” the ministry says.
On July 12, the first case of monkeypox was detected in the Russian Federation. The man, with a characteristic rash after a trip to Europe, went to St. He turned to the doctors in St. Petersburg. The places the man visited were disinfected. incubation period Finished There were no other cases of infection in the city on July 20.
The surveillance service emphasizes that they are taking all necessary measures to stop the risks of importation and spread of the disease. Sanitary and quarantine control at the Russian border was strengthened.
“Today there is the possibility of rapid testing for monkeypox across Russia. Comprehensive methodological recommendations on the procedure for identifying persons suspected of this disease were brought to medical institutions, ”Rospotrebnadzor said in a statement.
“For political reasons”
Sergei Leonov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Health Committee, said in an interview with socialbites.ca that WHO often makes political decisions in the interests of certain European countries. He said this approach has been particularly demonstrated during the coronavirus pandemic.
“This decision was taken for purely political reasons to intimidate the world community. “Given our special operation in Ukraine, it is now clear that certain distractions are needed, and therefore a certain media agenda is shifting towards the very big problems with monkeypox, as WHO says.”
He pointed out that only one case of monkeypox has been recorded in Russia and this disease has not spread in the country, so there is no need for “any special measures” that should now be taken or implemented in the healthcare system.
“We have prepared vaccines that will work against monkeypox, in case this infection really begins to spread on a large scale, that is, our country is ready, there is no need for additional measures in addition to the general anti-epidemic measures currently applied. On the territory of the Russian Federation,” Leonov concluded.
what is smallpox
Monkeypox occurs mainly in remote areas in central and western Africa, but even there the disease is extremely rare. The first case of transmission of the virus from an animal to humans was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition to primates, rodents can spread the disease.
There is no separate monkeypox vaccine in the world, but the smallpox vaccine provides 85% protection.
The New England Journal of Medicine, citing data from an analysis of 528 cases of infection, authorThe most common symptom was rash – 95% of those infected were present on the genital area and anus, trunk, arms, legs, face, palms and feet.
The nature of this rash was diverse – there were vesicular (similar to vesicles) rashes, cortical, pustular, vesiculopustular, macular (different in color, but not protruding above the skin) and others. At the same time, up to 10 ulcers can occur on the human body.
Patients also reported feeling fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes before the rash appeared.
Disease meets and due to the reduced immunity of the mucous membrane, which is very sensitive in children and children under 16 years of age, it is easier for monkeypox to enter their body. Also, already still cases where a patient becomes ill with both monkeypox and coronavirus at the same time.