Global monkeypox cases reach 35,000 in 92 countries
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Monkeypox infections have risen to more than 35,000 across 92 countries and 12 deaths, says World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“Almost 7,500 cases were reported last week, a 20 per cent increase over the previous week, which was also 20 per cent more than the week before,” he disclosed
at a news conference at WHO headquarters in Geneva.
A total 172 monkeypox infections and four deaths were recorded in Nigeria by 14 August, according to the latest report of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The report shows 115 out of the 172 cases reported in Nigeria from 1 January to 7 August affected men, accounting for more than 50 per cent.
Ghebreyesus said worldwide, the majority of cases are being reported from Europe and the Americas, affecting mostly among men who have sex with men, but the primary focus for all countries must be to ensure they are ready for monkeypox, and to stop transmission.
He urged countries to focus on stopping monkeypox transmission by using effective public health tools, including enhanced disease surveillance, careful contact tracing, tailored risk communication and community engagement, and risk reduction measures.
Global supplies of monkeypox vaccines are currently limited, as is data about their effectiveness, but WHO is in contact with manufacturers, countries, and organisations willing to share vaccine doses, he added.
“We remain concerned that the inequitable access to vaccines we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic will be repeated, and that the poorest will continue to be left behind.”
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Coronavirus deaths
Ghebreyesus disclosed that deaths from COVID-19 have also increased over the past four weeks, rising 35 per cent, with 15,000 lives lost in the past week alone, according to reporting by Vanguard.
“Fifteen thousand deaths a week is completely unacceptable, when we have all the tools to prevent infections and save lives.
“Although everyone might be tired of COVID-19 but virus is not tired of us.”
Omicron remains the dominant variant, with the BA.5 sub-variant accounting for more than 90 per cent of genome sequences shared in the last month.
Ghebreyesus reported that it is becoming harder to understand how the virus might be changing.
The number of sequences shared per week has fallen 90 per cent since the beginning of the year, and the number of countries sharing sequences has also dropped 75 per cent.
He warned that with colder weather approaching in the northern hemisphere, and people spending more time indoors, the risk for more intense transmissions will only increase.
“But none of us is helpless – please get vaccinated if you are not, and if you need a booster, get one,” he advised.
He said measures such as wearing a mask and avoiding crowds, especially indoors, should be embraced.
“There is a lot of talk about learning to live with this virus. But we cannot live with 15,000 deaths a week.”
War and starvation in Ethiopia
Ghebreyesus also highlighted the crisis in the Horn of Africa, where millions are facing starvation and disease due to drought, conflict, climate change and rising prices for food, fuel, and fertiliser.
WHO has provided more than $16 million from an emergency fund to meet the needs, but more support is required.
The agency is appealing for $123.7 million which will be used to prevent and control outbreaks, treat malnutrition, and provide essential health services as well as medicines.
Ghebreyesus stressed the drought is compounding the “man-made catastrophe” in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopian, where war has raged for nearly two years.
Some six million people are under siege by Ethiopian and Eritrean forces, he said, “sealed off from the outside world, with no telecommunications, no banking services and very limited electricity and fuel.”
As a result, he added, they are facing multiple outbreaks of malaria, anthrax, cholera, diarrhea and more.
“This unimaginable cruelty must end. The only solution is peace.’’
He, however, appealed for greater global attention to the situation in Tigray.
“I can tell you that the humanitarian crisis in Tigray is more than in Ukraine, without any exaggeration. And I said it many months ago, maybe the reason is the colour of the skin of the people in Tigray.”
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