The World Health Organisation (WHO) on July 23 declared monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency. WHO now sees this virus as a significant enough threat that global response is needed to prevent it from spreading.
Last month, WHO decided to not declare it a global emergency but ever since then, cases are on the rise. So far, more than 16,000 cases have been reported along with five deaths from 75 countries. Infection rate rose by 77 per cent from late June through early July.
The last issued global health emergency was in January 2020 in response to Covid-19 outbreak.
Monkeypox has majorly been spreading in men who have sex with men and Europe is the epicentre now.
This virus causes a painful pimple like rash, which then spreads over the body. People who have contact with the fluid from those blisters can catch this virus.
According to US Centers for Disease and Prevention, symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle ache, chills, exhaustion and rash looking like pimple. If you have a rash, it is advised to stay isolated in a room. Most people recover from monkeypox in two to four weeks.
