Harpreet Kaur MPH.BSC.RN’s Post

The recent detection of a more severe strain of Mpox (Clade 1) in Sweden marks the first case of this variant in Europe. This strain, which has been spreading across Africa, is more contagious and has a higher mortality rate (5-10%) compared to the previously known Clade 2. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa CDC recently declared this outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). #Mpox #Europe #Pandemic #WHO https://lnkd.in/eaks-9jk

ZM: Gov't Warns of Escalating Non-Communicable Diseases, Urges Robust Health Response  The Zambian government has sounded the alarm on the rising tide of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), labeling it as a ticking time bomb that demands immediate attention. Health Minister, Sylvia Masebo, underscored the urgent necessity for a robust and efficient health system to confront this pressing challenge head-on. Addressing the escalating NCD crisis, the government has committed significant resources to modernize health facilities and improve service delivery. The primary objective is to equip the country with the capacity to effectively address the mounting burden of NCDs. Minister Masebo emphasized that strengthening health systems will be pivotal in preparing the nation to tackle the challenges associated with treating NCDs effectively. These remarks were delivered by the Minister during the World Health Day Commemorations held in Lusaka. The event aimed to raise awareness about the global health crisis stemming from NCDs and advocated for the prioritization of healthcare services. Echoing these sentiments, Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Africa, highlighted the urgent need for enhanced access to quality essential health services across the sub-region. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has once again declared a "public health emergency of international concern" for Mpox, a virus formerly known as Monkeypox. A new variant, Clade Ib, is spreading rapidly across the globe in countries including, Kenya and Sweden. Although this variant appears to be less deadly, with a mortality rate of 0.6%, its swift spread raises concerns of a potential pandemic.   The Guardian article highlights that the new variant's spread could have been mitigated if vaccines were more readily available, particularly in poorer countries. However, due to WHO rules, access to these vaccines has been limited.   The ongoing situation underscores the importance of global cooperation in addressing health threats. As healthcare providers and supporters of the NHS, we urge everyone to stay vigilant about their health and well-being while we work together to prevent future pandemics. To read the full article: https://lnkd.in/evnvNFcF

𝐌𝐩𝐨𝐱 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 The World Health Organisation has declared #Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) following the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which previously declared it a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. This is the second time in 15 months that PHEIC has been called amid a surge of over 17,000 suspected cases and more than 500 deaths this year alone, including reports of cases from countries that have not reported cases previously neighbouring the current epicentre of the outbreak. While the previous global epidemic in 2022 was attributed to clade II MPXV that spread to over 100 countries; this current outbreak has been linked to at least potentially two independent clade I outbreaks affecting adults and children coupled with multiple spillover events linked to the cases. Alarmingly, there have been reports of case-fatality rates in children. It is crucial to ascertain whether this is inherently related to the virulence of the MPXV clade 1 virus or potentially related to challenges in reaching vulnerable populations and difficulties in accessing healthcare, which may contribute to the outcome. The declaration of a #PHEIC enables the mobilisation of overdue resources and the global attention the situation rightly deserves. This designation paves the way for improved surveillance, case detection, a deeper understanding of transmission dynamics, and the undertaking of disease control activities. In today's interconnected world, events in one part of the globe have far-reaching implications and do not happen in isolation. They should prompt countries to coordinate efforts on local preparedness and response capabilities while assisting with a situation to deferred expertise locally while facilitating access to all resources as needed including vaccines in solidarity.

The World Health Organization officially declares mpox a global health emergency, signaling the need for increased research, global public health measures, and international co-operation to contain the disease. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: “It’s clear that a co-ordinated international response is essential to stop this outbreak and save lives.” Read more about today's announcement and the mpox outbreak: https://lnkd.in/gTE66kx9

With mpox being designated a public health emergency of continental security by the Africa CDC and as a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), we are resharing this insightful piece from Senior Fellow Ifeanyi Nsofor, MD from 2022 about what you should know about the disease and the global response to it. Follow him for insights on mpox and other issues in global health. https://lnkd.in/ekTdiqp5 #healthequity #publichealth #globalhealth

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency due to a new variant of mpox virus This strain is causing more severe disease and higher mortality compared to the variant responsible for the 2022 outbreak. This new mpox variant was first detected last year in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with cases now rising in the neighboring countries as well. 👉 The new variant is considered more contagious and therefore, WHO warns of the variant's potential for wider international spread. Symptoms of mpox include fever, headache, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Mpox can spread through close or intimate contacts, by touching items such as clothing or surfaces used by infected people, or through contact with wild animals, their fluids, bites, and scratches. However, the person-to-person transmission is considered relatively inefficient. 🔬 💉 Diagnostic testing, along with vaccination, plays a crucial role in controlling the spread of the virus. Early detection leads to better management of symptoms and prevention of severe complications. 🌍 Testing also enables health authorities track the spread of the disease, identify outbreak hotspots, and understand transmission dynamics. This information is crucial for public health responses and for targeted interventions. Contact Aidian for more information about mpox testing solutions: https://lnkd.in/d5gJ7iz6 #Aidian #WHO #mpox #diagnostics

In light of the World Health Organization (WHO) designating the latest #monkeypox (mpox) outbreak a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’, its highest alert level, we sat down with Dr. Yin Ye, #BGI Group CEO, to ask him about mpox and how concerned people should be about catching it. Read: https://bit.ly/3WT5YFj

The World Health Organization and Africa CDC have declared that an ongoing outbreak of #mpox in Africa is both a continental and global health emergency. But what exactly is mpox? How dangerous is it? What causes it? Find the answers to these questions and other frequently asked questions relating to mpox in our latest explainer blog ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/e6aRuMd8

Empowering Health Workers, Stopping Outbreaks: Uganda’s ERPHC Success Story. I’m proud to be part of the Epidemic-Ready Primary Health Care (ERPHC) initiative, a transformative program recently featured in a compelling story. This partnership between Uganda’s Ministry of Health, the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), and Resolve To Save Lives strengthens the capacity of frontline healthcare workers to detect, report, and manage outbreaks, while maintaining essential health services. In just a few months, ERPHC districts have demonstrated incredible progress: =>Generating 57% of Uganda’s national outbreak alerts, despite representing only 14% of the districts. =>Producing more actionable, priority-focused alerts, reducing false alarms, and ensuring timely responses. This success is driven by continuous mentorship and capacity building, empowering health workers to safeguard communities and stop outbreaks before they start. Programs like ERPHC highlight the value of investing in healthcare workers as the first line of defense against epidemics. Learn more about this impactful initiative and how it’s shaping the future of public health https://lnkd.in/dJKdyM3T Together, we’re building resilient health systems that protect and serve Ugandan lives. #EpidemicPreparedness #PrimaryHealthCare #HealthcareMentorship #Healthcareworkers #Uganda #mpox