The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the monkeypox (mpox) outbreak in Congo and elsewhere in Africa a global emergency. The outbreak has spread to 13 countries.
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement. WHO said there were more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths in Africa this year, surpassing last year’s total.
“This is something that should concern us all. The potential for further spread in Africa and beyond is very worrying,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the Associated Press.
Responding to the announcement, the Ministry of Health is preparing a vaccine to anticipate the spread of the monkeypox outbreak in Indonesia.
“We are now preparing the vaccine. We are lucky because there is still a smallpox vaccine (and the people of Indonesia still get smallpox vaccine), remember? It gives pretty good immunity,” said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, as reported by CNN Indonesia.
The WHO emergency declaration is intended to encourage donor agencies and other countries to act. CDC Africa Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya said the emergency declaration aimed to appeal to African international partners for help, because they largely ignored the increasing number of cases in Africa.
For reference, the 2022 mpox outbreak in dozens of countries was largely contained with vaccines and treatments in rich countries.
What is monkeypox or mpox?
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, was first identified by scientists in 1958 when there was an outbreak of a smallpox-like disease in monkeys. The majority of human cases have been discovered in people in Central and West Africa who have had close contact with infected animals.
Mpox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox but has milder symptoms such as fever, chills and pain. People with more serious cases can have lesions or damage on the face, hands, chest, and genitals.
The Spread of Monkeypox
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WHO says mpox was recently identified for the first time in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. All outbreaks are connected to the epidemic in Congo. There are fears of further spread in Africa and beyond.
Like other infectious diseases, the new form of mpox found in Congo can spread. Even the Swedish health agency has identified the first case of the new mpox variant in a person who is new from Africa and sought health care in Stockholm.
Monkeypox spreads through close contact, such as sex, skin-to-skin contact, and talking or breathing near another person. The disease causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions and can be fatal, with four out of 100 cases resulting in death.
Monkeypox cases in Indonesia
Currently, there are 11 cases of monkeypox found in Jakarta. These cases are spread across various regions in Jakarta.
“Yes, it is true of the 11 cases in DKI, there is one from Pasar Minggu,” said Head of the South Jakarta Health Sub-Department Yudi Dimyati when contacted in South Jakarta, Thursday, August 15, 2024, as quoted from Antara.
So far, Yudi explained, the 11 cases of monkeypox found were spread across eight sub-districts, namely Pasar Minggu, Ciracas, Grogol Petamburan, Jatinegara, Kebon Jeruk, Matraman, Tanah Abang and Tanjung Priok.
The average age of patients who are undergoing intensive care is 21-50 years old.
Yudi also asked the public to recognize the symptoms as a form of prevention. “Symptoms of monkeypox are rashes and lesions on the face, hands, feet, body, eyes, mouth or genitals,” he said.
