“It mutates rapidly and has been spreading in more than 12 African countries with cases seen in America, Scandinavian, and Europe.” Health expert, Doctor Omotuyi Mebawondu, led the Platforms Africa e-Discourse where he unveiled all you need to know about M-pox and the real reason the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it a new global health emergency. Excerpts;
The WHO has declared Mpox a global health emergency. What is Mpox, and why is it a global emergency?
Is a viral disease caused by the mpox virus. With an incubation period of 1 to 21 days, it causes body ache, muscle aches, sore throat, and big rashes .
It has the capacity to be transmitted from animal to human, human to human, materials to human, sneezing, coughing, and droplet infection, through sex and vertical transmission from the mother to the unborn baby.
It mutates rapidly and has been spreading in more than 12 African countries with cases seen in America, Scandinavian, and Europe.
Would you say governments in Africa are doing enough to sensitise the people on this?
The first step is to declare it a pandemic of Continental Security Concern, which was followed by WHO declaration.
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So, this brings the necessary attention to it. We can mobilize drugs, money, human resources, laboratories, and vaccines to fight it.
This will also bring continental / global coordination of activities.
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But we need to do more in communicating the disease and empowering communities to respond.
Finally, what are the save yourself tips for individuals on how to avoid m-pox?
Step 1:
Get vaccinated!
Step 2:
Learn steps you can take to lower your risk of mpox during sex or at a social gathering.
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Step 3:
Avoid close, skin-to-skin6 contact with people who have a rash that looks like mpox and animals that carry the monkeypox virus.
Step 4:
Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with mpox has used.
Step 5:
Wash your hands often.
Watch for symptoms of mpox for 21 days from the date of your last exposure. If you have symptoms, such as a rash, visit a healthcare provider.
This edition of e-Discourse, a weekly event organised by Platforms Africa, a forum created by award-winning African journalist, Adeola Yusuf, is moderated by Accra, Ghana-based veteran journalist, Francis KOKUTSE
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