ALBAWABA - While Europe has reported the disease's first case, Pakistan has verified three further cases. This occurs at the same time as the epidemic has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to proclaim a worldwide public health emergency.
Health officials in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, said that the cases were found in visitors traveling from the United Arab Emirates. The World Health Organization said on Thursday that a new virus strain has emerged, making the monkeypox epidemic a worldwide health emergency.
There have been incidences of monkeypox in Pakistan in the past, but the strain that is afflicting the latest victims is unknown.
In the meanwhile, the more virulent "MPOX" version of monkeypox has been detected for the first time outside of Africa in Sweden.
The Global Health Emergency Statement by WHO
The WHO raised the situation to a global health emergency on Wednesday, the highest alert level the agency has. This choice was made in response to grave worries about the monkeypox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its spread to nearby nations.
Director-General of the World Health Organization Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the situation was serious, saying, "Today, the emergency committee advised that the situation is a public health emergency of international concern, and I have endorsed this recommendation."
There isn't a specific treatment available.
The WHO spokesperson, Tarik Jasarevic, emphasized that this strain of monkeypox is unique in that it has now gone outside of Africa, warranting the designation of a worldwide emergency.
In order to control the epidemic, Jasarevic underlined the necessity of more funding and international cooperation. Monkeypox does not currently have a particular treatment, but vaccination efforts and preventative measures are being given top priority.
In an effort to stop the virus from spreading, the WHO is pleading with nations to step up testing and surveillance programs. The primary means of transmission for monkeypox is direct contact with infected persons. Skin rashes, fever, and headaches are some of the symptoms.
