Stating that it is easier to stop the spread of monkeypox than Covid-19, WHO Spokesperson Margaret Harrisi responded to the question “Can a new process like Covid-19 start?”, which caused concerns worldwide.
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the spread of the monkeypox virus “a public health emergency of international concern”.
WHO Spokesperson Margaret Harris made evaluations on the monkeypox virus, which is under global scrutiny.
Noting that the rapid spread of the virus has become the world's agenda, Harris noted that the virus has two genetic types, “Clade 1 and Clade 2”.
While expressing his concerns about the new strain of the virus “Clade 1b” that emerged last year, Harris said, “This is the strain we are worried about because it is transmitted very quickly and has a very high mortality rate, especially among children.”
EXPLOSION IN CASES
Stating that the main concern is that it is spreading very fast, Harris said that more cases have been detected this year than in the whole of 2023.
The virus, which is spreading very fast, has also spread to other countries. Monkeypox cases increased in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and were also seen in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, which had never reported cases before.
THE IMPACT ON YOUNG CHILDREN IS WORRYING
Noting that higher mortality rates have been seen due to the new strain of the chickenpox virus, Clade 1b, Harris said, “The mortality rate is about 3 percent and higher than that in really vulnerable groups like young children. We are particularly concerned about the impact on young children. It is also spreading rapidly among people displaced by conflict. These people suffering from malnutrition are in a very dangerous situation.”
