Monkey Pox Claims 58 in the DRC With Over 1 200 Reported Infections
- Monkey Pox has claimed almost 60 lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with over 1 200 people believed to be infected
- The virus has spread across 18 provinces of the country and cases have been confirmed around the world
- The first case of the virus has been reported in Ireland and steps are being taken to isolate the outbreak
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KIGALI - Monkey Pox has claimed the lives of 58 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January and over 1 200 infections have been confirmed according to the World Health Organisation.
The virus has spread across 18 provinces of the DRC and more cases have been reported across the world including in Europe and North America.
Source: Getty Images
The disease usually breaks out in forested areas of West and Central Africa but the virus has spread across the world and has been confirmed in Britain, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, France, Canada, the US and Australia.
The virus is contagious and is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person, usually when they are exposed to skin lesions and droplets of body fluid according to Anadolu Agency.
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First case of Monkey Pox confirmed in Ireland
The Guardian reported that the first case of Monkey Pox has been confirmed in Ireland. A public health risk assessment has been conducted and those who came into contact have been advised on what to do if they begin to display symptoms.
The Small Pox vaccine is quite effective against the virus as they come from the same orthopoxvirus family of diseases.
Monkeypox causes panic as WHO calls for emergency meeting
Ealier, Briefly News reported that Monkeypox, a viral infection similar to smallpox that originated from areas in west and central Africa, is spreading across Europe. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has rung alarm bells and called for an emergency meeting.
Over 100 cases of the virus have either been confirmed or suspected in Europe in what has been described as the largest outbreak of the virus in Europe ever.
The disease was first discovered in monkeys and is spread through close physical contact and up to now the virus has mainly affected African countries.
Source: Briefly News
