https://en.sputniknews.africa/20231125/who-confirms-first-reported-spread-of-mpox-through-sexual-transmission-in-dr-congo-1063782142.html
WHO Confirms First Reported Spread of Mpox Through Sexual Transmission in DR Congo
WHO Confirms First Reported Spread of Mpox Through Sexual Transmission in DR Congo
Sputnik Africa
Mpox (or monkeypox) was previously thought to be transmitted through close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets, or contaminated materials... 25.11.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-11-25T13:30+0100
2023-11-25T13:30+0100
2023-11-25T13:30+0100
sub-saharan africa
disease
world health organization (who)
belgium
united nations (un)
virus
mpox (monkeypox)
health
healthcare
democratic republic of the congo (drc)
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The World Health Organization said in its report that it has confirmed sexual transmission of the mpox virus for the first time in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Four men and one woman in the central African country tested positive for mpox after having sexual contact in March with a tourist from Belgium who likely contracted the disease in his home country, the UN health agency has revealed.According to the organization, this case marks the "first documented sexual transmission" of mpox and the first recorded case of homosexual transmission.In addition, in an unrelated case, another confirmed case of mpox was reported in late July in the town of Kenge, DR Congo, involving a man who had sexual contact with men.In this regard, the UN agency noted that there are gay clubs in Kenge, some of whose members travel to other clubs inside and outside the country, particularly in Europe and Central Africa. WHO added that there are more than 50 of these clubs in Kinshasa, DR Congo's capital, a fact that connotes the risk of the virus spreading through sexual activity.The agency noted that the number was the highest ever recorded in the country, with new cases detected in geographic areas where mpox had not previously been reported, including Kinshasa, Lualaba in the south, and South Kivu in the east.The WHO warned that the risk of the infection spreading to other countries in Africa and around the world "appears to be significant," adding that there could be "potentially more severe consequences" than last year's global epidemic.In 2022, mpox infection went global when it spread to more than 100 countries, prompting the WHO to declare the outbreak a global emergency, and it has caused approximately 91,000 cases to date. The United States, Brazil, Spain, France, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and the United Kingdom reported the most cases during the global outbreak. Mpox used to be called monkeypox, but was renamed last year as the old name seemed "racist and stigmatizing," according to the WHO.The virus was named after its discovery in a colony of laboratory monkeys in 1958. The first cases of human infection were reported in the DR Congo in 1970.
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disease, world health organization (who), belgium, united nations (un), virus, mpox (monkeypox), health, healthcare, democratic republic of the congo (drc), central africa
disease, world health organization (who), belgium, united nations (un), virus, mpox (monkeypox), health, healthcare, democratic republic of the congo (drc), central africa
WHO Confirms First Reported Spread of Mpox Through Sexual Transmission in DR Congo
Mpox (or monkeypox) was previously thought to be transmitted through close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets, or contaminated materials, and from animals to humans. The infection usually begins with fever, muscle aches, and sore throat, followed by a rash on the skin and mucous membranes.
The World Health Organization
said in its report that it has confirmed sexual transmission of the mpox virus for the first time in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Four men and one woman in the central African country tested positive for mpox after having sexual contact in March with a tourist from Belgium who likely contracted the disease in his home country, the UN health agency has revealed.
According to the organization, this case marks the "first documented sexual transmission" of mpox and the first recorded case of homosexual transmission.
"This is the first definitive proof of sexual transmission of monkeypox in Africa," said Oyewale Tomori, a Nigerian virologist who sits on several WHO advisory groups. "The idea that this kind of transmission could not be happening here has now been debunked."
In addition, in an unrelated case, another
confirmed case of mpox was reported in late July in the town of Kenge, DR Congo, involving a man who had sexual contact with men.
In this regard, the UN agency noted that there are gay clubs in Kenge, some of whose members travel to other clubs inside and outside the country, particularly in Europe and Central Africa. WHO added that there are more than 50 of these clubs in Kinshasa, DR Congo's capital, a fact that connotes the risk of the virus spreading through sexual activity.
The spread of the virus is particularly acute in the central African country, where a total of 12,569 suspected cases of monkeypox, including 581 deaths, were reported in 22 of the country's 26 provinces between January and November this year, the WHO added.
The agency noted that the number was the highest ever recorded in the country, with new cases detected in geographic areas where mpox had not previously been reported, including Kinshasa, Lualaba in the south, and South Kivu in the east.
The WHO warned that the risk of the infection spreading to other countries in Africa and around the world "appears to be significant," adding that there could be "potentially more severe consequences" than last year's global epidemic.
In 2022, mpox infection went global when
it spread to more than 100 countries, prompting the WHO to declare the outbreak a global emergency, and it has caused approximately 91,000 cases to date. The United States, Brazil, Spain, France, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and the United Kingdom reported the most cases during the global outbreak.
However, this May, after nearly a year of the epidemic, the WHO declared that mpox no longer constitutes a global health emergency due to "sharp decline in the number of cases worldwide."
Mpox used to be called monkeypox, but was renamed last year as the old name seemed "racist and stigmatizing," according to the
WHO.
The virus was named after its discovery in a colony of laboratory monkeys in 1958. The first cases of human infection were reported in the DR Congo in 1970.
