Harris made assessments at the weekly press conference of the Geneva Office of the United Nations (UN).
Stating that “the M pox virus is spreading faster than before and has a high mortality rate,” Harris said it is especially dangerous for those with weak immune systems and children.
Harris noted that there is currently no specific treatment for M pox, but supportive treatments are used for patients infected with this virus. Stating that M-pox cases spread through contact, Harris asked sick people to be careful about their contacts to prevent further spread.
Harris pointed out that the reporting of the first M-pox case in Sweden yesterday showed that the tracking system was working and said, “Sweden was transparent about the first reported case, countries should another to follow this path.”
WHO Emergency Committee convened
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had decided to call the WHO Emergency Committee on August 14, because there was a possibility of further international spread of the M-pox virus in Africa and other regions.
Assessing after the meeting, Ghebreyesus said, “The WHO Emergency Committee met today and gave me the recommendation that the situation (related to the M pox virus) is a public health emergency of international concern . I accepted this suggestion.
The African Union had said that a public health emergency was declared across the continent against the M pox virus, which is spreading rapidly in African countries.
It is transmitted from animals and humans
M pox virus is transmitted from animals such as mice and squirrels or from infected people. Touching body particles caused by the virus, using clothing, sheets, towels and similar items contaminated with these ticks, and contact with body fluids are among the most important causes of infection. .
The first symptoms may appear within 5 to 21 days after contracting the virus. The virus usually causes high fever, head, back and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, chills, chills and blisters on the skin similar to chicken pox.
The disease, which has no specific treatment method, is treated with antiviral drugs. In most cases the illness will be mild and they will recover within a few weeks.
