Friday, August 23

Today, we have published a YNH Exclusive about the latest surge in monkeypox cases, answering all of your questions about the dangerous disease.

Monkeypox is still spreading across the world, and a total of eighteen countries have reported at least one case of mpox. However, will it be the next COVID-19? Will there be another lockdown? Am I at risk? Here's the answer to all of your questions, and more.

A recent surge in cases across Africa forced the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global health emergency over the outbreak, and the continent's CDC organization has also declared a public health emergency.

Monkeypox is closely related to smallpox, which was eradicated 40 years ago, and is spread through close contact or contact with materials that have touched an infected person. It can also be spread between animals and humans. The disease causes mild initial symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes, as well as serious rashes all over the body and painful lesions later on. After a couple of weeks, the lesions usually scab over and go away on their own, but if you have mpox-like symptoms, make sure to get treated as quick as possible to make sure it doesn't spread. The disease isn't normally deadly, but it can be fatal, especially in young children or people with weaker immune systems.

Out of the two types of mpox, clade I and clade II, clade I is more severe and has a higher death rate-- the fatality rate for clade I is around 10%, while the rate for clade II is under 1%. A new strain of clade I, called Ib, is responsible for the latest outbreak across Africa. Fourteen countries on the continent have reported cases, but only five of those are experiencing an outbreak of clade Ib-- the epicenter of the outbreak is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 1,400 cases have been reported in just the past week, while around 19,000 have been reported since the beginning of the year with 500 deaths. Millions of vaccines were requested following the severe outbreak of clade IIb across the continent in 2022, but none were ever delivered, worsening their condition.

However, the WHO has promised that vaccines will start being delivered later this week, which will hopefully contain the spread of mpox, and they hope to supply almost 3 million vaccines by the end of the year. Unfortunately, that promise faces a few challenges. First of all, most of the countries cannot even afford these vaccines, as they are priced at over $100 per dose. In addition, due to the short supply, only 200,000 doses are currently available, while the African CDC Director General estimates that they will need at least 10 million. Multiple vaccine makers have pledged their support to supply vaccines, but it may not be enough, as mpox is spreading quickly. Cases have already been reported in Sweden, Thailand, Pakistan, and the Philippines, and it could reach other countries any day now.

The big question is, will mpox be the next COVID? The answer is no. Due to the fact that it is much less transmissible, it spreads very slowly. The virus only jumps from person to person (or animal) through direct contact, which only happens in select scenarios. On the other hand, you can get the coronavirus just by breathing in the same air as an infected person, which contains droplets and particles with the virus. Since mpox requires direct contact with someone else, another lockdown is a definite no, but if an outbreak does happen in your area and you are unable to get vaccinated, just try not to touch anyone else who might have it.

Authorities can control the spread of mpox much easier than COVID, but more research will be needed to determine its long-term effects and possible easier ways to stop it. In fact, WHO is also funding more mpox research to learn more about the disease and how to further stop its spread, which could potentially curb cases across Africa. As WHO Europe Director Hans Kluge stated, "The need for a coordinated response is now greatest in the African region. We can, and must, tackle mpox together – across regions and continents."

Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Out of the eight main blood types, AB negative is the rarest-- under 1% of people have this blood type. They can only donate to other ABs but can receive blood from O negative, A negative, B negative, and AB negative.

The real rarest blood type, though, is Rh-null, also known as golden blood. People with this blood type lack Rh antigens in their blood, meaning that it doesn't have any of the 61 Rh antigens that it could possibly have. It is an autosomal recessive gene, and is tough to deal with because they can only receive blood from other people with Rh-null-- and only around 50 people have ever been discovered with this blood type. However, their blood is also extremely useful because anyone with golden blood is considered a universal donor.

Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I know how I look like. I know how I sound. I know how I walk. I’m just gonna be me. I do me, and you do you. (Caster Semenya)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Dearth (noun)- Dearth refers to a lack or inadequate supply. It is usually followed by of.

In a Sentence: There is no dearth of opportunities for volunteers at the fair.