There is an outbreak a new variant the deadly mpox virus parts of Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency. It has called urgent action to curb the virus. The first instance the variant was found in Congo the 1st of June. It has since spread to 13 African nations. On Thursday, Sweden reported a case. A day later, Pakistan confirmed it had a patient. The WHO said there have been more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths this year. Friday, Europe's Centre Disease Prevention and Control said more imported cases mpox were "highly likely". However, it said the chances local outbreaks in Europe were "very low".
Mpox is primarily transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact infected people or their contaminated clothes or bedsheets. It can also spread through close proximity to someone who sneezes or coughs. People can also catch it talking or breathing too close to an infected person. The WHO says mpox is less contagious than Covid-19, which was an airborne virus. Common symptoms mpox include rash, fever, and muscle aches. The rash develops hundreds pus-filled blisters, which may be itchy or painful. There are insufficient supplies the mpox vaccine in Africa. Most supplies are stockpiled the West as part their own emergency preparedness.
