Monkeypox Causes Panic As WHO Calls for Emergency Meeting, Cases in Europe Jump Over 100
- Over 100 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed or suspected in 12 countries, in the biggest outbreak of the virus in Europe
- The World Health Organisation has called for an emergency meeting after the virus was confirmed in nine European countries as well as Canada, the USA, and Australia
- The viral infection is similar to smallpox but symptoms are relatively mild with a low fever and a distinctive rash
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COPENHAGEN - Monkeypox, a viral infection similar to smallpox that originated in areas in the West and Central Africa, is spreading across Europe. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has rung alarm bells and called for an emergency meeting.
Over 100 cases of the virus have either been confirmed or suspected in Europe in what has been described as the largest outbreak of the virus in Europe ever.
Source: UGC
The disease was first discovered in monkeys and is spread through close physical contact, and up to now the virus has mainly affected African countries.
The virus's rapid spread in Europe is causing serious concern, particularly in the wake of the Covid19 pandemic.
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However, scientists are confident that monkeypox will not develop into a pandemic on the scale of Covid19.
Monkeypox is a mild virus and symptoms typically include a fever and a bumpy rash according to SABC News.
The virus has been confirmed in 12 countries with 80 confirmed cases and another 50 suspected cases. Nine countries in Europe have reported the virus and cases have been established in the US, Canada, and Australia.
The virus is not easily spread from person to person and scientists have said that the risk to the public at large is relatively low.
BBC reported that there currently is no vaccine for the virus but the smallpox vaccine is 85% effective. The two viruses are very similar, meaning the jab offers decent protection and is being rolled out across Europe.
COVID-19: Wearing Of Face Masks Not Mandatory Any Longer – Akufo-Addo Announces
YEN.com.gh previously reported that Nana Akufo-Addo has abolished the mandatory wearing of face masks in public and private gatherings beginning Monday.
Delivering the 28th Covid address yesterday, Sunday, March 27, 2022, the president said Ghana’s covid situation had improved so much that treatment centres were empty and active cases stood at 72 with no critical or severe illness.
He also said although Ghana has not achieved the national vaccination coverage target, the figures were encouraging. He revealed many have been vaccinated at notable hotspots of infections, particularly in the urban areas of Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Nathaniel Crabbe (Human-Interest editor) Nathaniel Crabbe is a journalist and editor with a degree in Journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism, where he graduated in 2015. He earned his master's from UPSA in December 2023. Before becoming an editor/writer of political/entertainment and human interest stories at Asaase Radio, Crabbe was a news reporter at TV3 Ghana. With experience spanning over ten years, he now works at YEN.com.gh as a human interest editor. You can reach him via nathaniel.crabbe@yen.com.gh.
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