What is mpox and how do you protect yourself? | Al Jazeera NewsFeed

Summary

The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency over the spreading EMPO virus, previously known as monkeypox, which is believed to originate from small rodents. Although not yet a pandemic, it has reached Pakistan and Sweden. The virus, related to smallpox, can cause fever, chills, and skin lesions, and spreads through broken skin or the airways. Protective measures include masks, isolation, and hygiene. The focus is on Central Africa, where the more severe strain, known as Clade 1, is endemic and spreading.

Takeaways

• 🚨 The World Health Organization has declared a new Public Health Emergency regarding a spreading virus known as 'empo'.
• 🌍 Empo is believed to have originated in Central and West Africa but has spread to other continents, including Pakistan and Sweden.
• 👥 A coordinated international response is deemed essential to stop the virus from causing further outbreaks and to save lives.
• 🔬 Empo was previously known as monkeypox, but the name was changed by WHO as the primary hosts are now thought to be small rodents, not monkeys.
• 🦠 Empo is related to the smallpox virus and can enter the body through broken skin or the respiratory system, spreading via the bloodstream.
• 🤒 Symptoms of empo include fever, chills, headaches, and eventually welts and boils on the skin, which are not usually fatal but can be deadly.
• 🌐 There have been previous global outbreaks of the virus, notably in 2022 with nearly 100,000 reported cases across 122 countries.
• 🐭 The virus can be transmitted between animals and humans, and was introduced to prairie dogs in the US by infected rodents in 2003.
• 🧬 There are two strains of empo: the less severe 'Clay 2' endemic to West Africa and the more severe 'Clay 1' from Central Africa, which is currently spreading.
• 😷 Protection measures against empo include wearing masks, practicing isolation, using hand sanitizer, and maintaining good hygiene.
• 🏠 Affected individuals should isolate at home until their lesions have healed and avoid contact with others to prevent transmission.

Q & A

What is the new public health emergency declared by World Health Chiefs?

The new public health emergency declared by World Health Chiefs is about a spreading virus known as EMPO, previously known as monkeypox.

Where is the virus EMPO believed to have originated?

EMPO is believed to have originated in Central and West Africa but has spread outside the continent.

Which countries have recorded their first cases of EMPO?

Pakistan and Sweden have recorded their first cases of EMPO.

What is the importance of a coordinated international response to the EMPO outbreak?

A coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives, as the outbreak is not a pandemic and may never reach that status.

What is the relationship between EMPO and smallpox?

EMPO belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox and shares genetic similarities, but it is not usually as fatal.

How does EMPO enter the human body?

EMPO enters the human body through broken skin or the airways and spreads through the blood.

What are the symptoms of EMPO?

EMPO causes fever, chills, headaches, and progresses to welts and boils on the skin.

How can people protect themselves from EMPO?

People can protect themselves from EMPO by following similar procedures as for COVID-19, such as wearing masks, isolation, and using hand sanitizer.

What are the two strains of the EMPO virus mentioned in the script?

The two strains of the EMPO virus mentioned are the Clay 1 strain, which is endemic to Central Africa and considered more severe, and the Clay 2 strain, which is endemic to West Africa and considered less severe.

What is the focus of prevention to prevent a global crisis of EMPO?

The focus of prevention to prevent a global crisis should be Central Africa, where the major risk of the EMPO virus is currently centered.

Outlines

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🌐 International Emergency on Emerging Virus

The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency due to a spreading virus, believed to have originated in Central and West Africa. The virus, known as 'empo', has now reached countries like Pakistan and Sweden, highlighting the need for a coordinated international response. Empo, previously called monkeypox, is thought to be hosted by small rodents rather than monkeys and is related to the smallpox virus. It can enter the human body through broken skin or airways, causing symptoms such as fever, chills, and skin lesions. While not usually fatal, it can be deadly and has the potential to spread between animals and humans. The 2022 global outbreak saw nearly 100,000 reported cases, and the current strain, 'Clay 1', is more severe and contagious than the 'Clay 2' strain.

Keywords

💡Public Health Emergency

A public health emergency is a situation in which the health of a population is threatened on a large scale, often requiring a coordinated response from health authorities. In the video, the World Health Organization has declared a new public health emergency due to the spreading virus, EMPO, which originated in Central and West Africa and has spread to other continents, including Pakistan and Sweden.

💡EMPO

EMPO, previously known as monkeypox, is a virus that has been declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization. It is believed to be more severe and easier to catch than previous strains, with its primary hosts being small rodents rather than monkeys. The script discusses the virus's spread and the importance of international response to prevent further outbreaks.

💡Pandemic

A pandemic refers to an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. The script clarifies that the EMPO outbreak is not a pandemic and may never reach that status, but it still requires a coordinated international response to control its spread.

💡Smallpox

Smallpox is a contagious and often fatal disease caused by the variola virus. The script mentions that EMPO belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox, indicating a similarity in their potential severity and mode of transmission, although EMPO is not usually fatal.

💡Transmission

Transmission refers to the process by which a disease is spread from one organism to another. The script explains that EMPO enters the body through broken skin or the airways and spreads through the blood, causing various symptoms such as fever, chills, and skin lesions.

💡Strains

In the context of viruses, strains refer to different variants of the same virus, which may have distinct characteristics such as severity or transmissibility. The script mentions two strains of EMPO: the Clay 1 strain, which is more severe and easier to catch, and the Clay 2 strain, which is less severe and endemic to West Africa.

💡Isolation

Isolation is a preventive measure where infected individuals are separated from the healthy population to prevent the spread of disease. The script advises that EMPO sufferers should isolate at home until their lesions have healed, which is a crucial step in controlling the outbreak.

💡Hygiene

Hygiene refers to the set of practices that help maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases, such as regular handwashing and cleanliness. The script emphasizes the importance of good hygiene as a protective measure against EMPO, similar to the advice given during the COVID-19 pandemic.

💡Rodents

Rodents are a group of mammals that includes rats, mice, and other similar animals. The script identifies rodents as the likely hosts of the EMPO virus, which challenges the previous belief that monkeys were the origin, highlighting the importance of understanding the true reservoirs of a disease for effective control measures.

💡Global Crisis

A global crisis refers to a situation that poses a significant threat or challenge to countries or regions worldwide. The script discusses the potential for a global crisis due to the EMPO outbreak and emphasizes the need for focused efforts in Central Africa to prevent it from escalating.

💡Coordinated International Response

A coordinated international response involves multiple countries working together to address a common issue or threat. The script stresses the necessity of such a response to stop the EMPO outbreaks and save lives, illustrating the importance of global cooperation in managing public health emergencies.

Highlights

World Health Organization has declared a new Public Health Emergency due to a spreading virus, 'empo'.

Empo is believed to have originated in Central and West Africa but has spread beyond the continent.

Pakistan and Sweden have recorded their first cases of the empo virus.

A coordinated international response is deemed essential to stop the virus and save lives.

Empo is not currently a pandemic and may never reach that status.

Empo was previously known as monkeypox, but the name was changed by WHO as small rodents are now considered the hosts.

Empo is related to the smallpox virus and can enter the body through broken skin or the airways.

Symptoms of empo include fever, chills, headaches, welts, and boils on the skin.

Empo is not usually fatal, but it can cause death and spread between animals and humans.

There was a global outbreak of the virus in 2022 with nearly 100,000 reported cases.

The 2022 outbreak was caused by the Clay 2 strain, which is less severe and endemic to West Africa.

The new strain, Clay 1, is more severe, easier to catch, and spreading in Central Africa and beyond.

Health experts recommend similar precautions to COVID-19, such as masks, isolation, and hand sanitizer.

Empo sufferers should isolate at home until the lesions have dried up and fallen off.

Avoiding contact with people and animals, and not sharing items are advised for empo patients.

Good hygiene is recommended for everyone to prevent the spread of the virus.

The major risk area for empo is Central Africa, and focus should be on preventing a global crisis.

Transcripts

you might have seen World Health Chiefs

have declared a new Public Health

Emergency about a spreading virus empo

it's believ to have originated in

Central and West Africa but it spread

outside the continent Pakistan has

recorded its first case as has Sweden

it's clear that a coordinated

International response is essential to

stop these outbreaks and save lives the

outbreak is not a pandemic and may never

reach that status but what is empo and

what can you do to protect yourself from

it it used to be known as monkey pox but

the World Health Organization changed

the name because researchers don't think

monkeys are the origin for the source

rather they say it's more likely small

rodents are actually the hosts it

belongs to the same family of viruses as

small poox it enters the body through

broken skin or the Airways and spreads

through the blood it causes fever chills

headaches and progresses to welts and

boils on the skin it's not usually fatal

but it can cause death and it can spread

between animals and humans this isn't

the first time the virus has crossed

continents there was a global outbreak

in 2022 with almost 100,000 reported

cases in 122 countries and back in 2003

an infected Shipman of rodents

introduced the virus to prairie dogs in

the US there are two strains clay one

and Clay 2 the clay 2 strain is endemic

to West Africa and fi the 2022 outbreak

that strain is considered less severe

the newest strain is Cay one and is

endemic to Central Africa it's this

strain that's spreading through the

continent and has also been picked up in

Pakistan and Sweden it's considered more

severe and easier to catch so how can

people protect themselves well remember

covid masks isolation hand sanitizer

basically Health experts say people

should be following a similar procedure

impo sufferers need to isolate at home

until the lesions have dried up and

fallen off they should avoid contact

with people and animals and not share

anything they should also wear masks in

common areas and for everyone else the

advice is to practice good hygiene

Health experts say even though empo is

cross continents the major risk now is

central Africa and in order to prevent a

global crisis that's where the focus

should be