Breaking News English

World on alert as deadly mpox virus spreads

Mpox - Level 4

There is an outbreak of the deadly mpox virus in Africa. The WHO declared a global health emergency. It called for action to curb the virus. The first case was in Congo in June. It has now spread to 13 African nations. Last week, Sweden and Pakistan reported cases. The WHO said there have been 524 deaths this year. A spokesperson in Europe said imported cases of mpox were likely. It said the chances of outbreaks in Europe were low.

Mpox is spread through skin-to-skin contact and contaminated clothes or bedsheets. It can also spread through sneezes, coughs, or by talking to an infected person. Mpox is less contagious than Covid-19. Mpox symptoms include rash, fever, and muscle aches. The rash develops into hundreds of itchy and painful blisters. There are insufficient supplies of the mpox vaccine in Africa. Most supplies are in the West.

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3    |     Speed 4

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Mpox - Level 5

There is a new outbreak of the deadly mpox virus in Africa. The WHO has declared a global health emergency. It called for urgent action to curb the virus. The first instance was found in Congo in early June. It has now spread to 13 African nations. Late last week, both Sweden and Pakistan confirmed they had cases. The WHO said there have been more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths this year. Europe's Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said imported cases of mpox were "highly likely". However, it said the chances of outbreaks in Europe were "very low".

Mpox is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, and contaminated clothes or bedsheets. It can also spread through being close to someone who sneezes, coughs, or by talking to an infected person. The WHO says mpox is less contagious than Covid-19. This was an airborne virus. Mpox symptoms include rash, fever, and muscle aches. The rash develops into hundreds of pus-filled blisters. These may be itchy or painful. There are insufficient supplies of the mpox vaccine in Africa. Most supplies are in the West. Countries are keeping it to prepare for their own outbreaks.

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3    |     Speed 4

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Mpox - Level 6

There is an outbreak of a new variant of the deadly mpox virus in parts of Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency. It has called for urgent action to curb the virus. The first instance of the variant was found in Congo on 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. On Friday, Europe's Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said more imported cases of mpox were "highly likely". However, it said the chances of local outbreaks in Europe were "very low".

Mpox is primarily transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact with 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 by 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 of mpox include rash, fever, and muscle aches. The rash develops into hundreds of pus-filled blisters, which may be itchy or painful. There are insufficient supplies of the mpox vaccine in Africa. Most supplies are stockpiled in the West as part of their own emergency preparedness.

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3    |     Speed 4

MORE

25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson