The World Health Organization declared an ultra-deadly strain of monkeypox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years.
Officials said Wednesday that an outbreak of the strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ – the WHO’s highest level of alert.
The hope is to speed up research and accumulate more funding and public health measures to contain the disease, which has already spread to several of the DRC’s neighboring countries.
The announcement comes one week after the WHO expressed concerns about the virus having ‘the potential for further international spread within and outside of Africa.’
Telltale signs of mpox are skin rashes and lesions. Muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, and chills are also common
Director-General of the WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday: ‘It’s clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives.’