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Last Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the escalating spread of the so-called "monkeypox" virus in Africa as a global health emergency.
As Deutsche Welle reports, the WHO warned that the virus has the potential to spread worldwide if conditions allow. But how serious is this new threat, and what consequences could it have for our lives?
Margaret Harris, a WHO spokesperson, explained: "It spreads much faster than we've seen with other viruses. This is a concern. It has a very high mortality rate. We've seen over 500 deaths, and it's especially dangerous for those with weakened immune systems, such as HIV carriers or the malnourished. As you know, in the area where it spreads quickly—eastern Democratic Republic of Congo—there are many displaced people due to conflicts."
The first case in Europe was detected in Sweden, but scientists consider its rapid identification a positive sign, stressing that there is no need for "panic." "It's about knowledge—knowing what you have, what to look for, how to differentiate, and ensuring proper contact tracing without fear. There must always be a balance, but without causing terror. It's about containing the infection so that those most at risk—young people, the immunocompromised—do not get infected."
Europe is expected to see more imported cases in the coming days. However, WHO and International Red Cross representatives believe that closing borders is unnecessary. Brownen Nichol, a public health official, stated: "From the International Red Cross perspective, we follow international health regulations, which say there is no need to close borders. Diseases do not recognize borders, and people will continue to cross them, legally or not. The spread of the disease is not prevented this way."
Significant practical challenges persist, despite an outbreak being somewhat anticipated, Nichol noted: "Despite our efforts, we face significant challenges. There is a critical shortage of tests, treatments, and vaccines across Africa. These shortages severely hinder our ability to contain the outbreak. We urgently need international support to increase access to vaccine supplies and treatment options, as well as to scale up testing and tracing. Without these resources, the epidemic will continue to spread."
Few companies in Europe produce vaccines for this disease. One of them, the Danish company Biotech, saw its stock surge by 45% in just three days.
[Information sourced from Deutsche Welle]
