In a recent update, the World Health Organization (WHO) has made it clear that mpox is not the same as COVID-19, and there won’t be lockdowns or major restrictions like those we saw during the pandemic. This news comes just after the WHO declared a global emergency over mpox.
So, what’s mpox? Also known as monkeypox, it’s a viral infection that causes painful sores and flu-like symptoms. Most of the time, it’s not too serious, though it can be dangerous. Recently, a new and concerning version of the virus called Clade Ib has been spotted. This version seems to spread more easily, which has raised alarms.
During a live briefing, Han Kluge, the WHO’s regional director for Europe, said that there’s no need to panic. He assured that Europe won’t face lockdowns over mpox, unlike the strict measures taken for COVID-19. Kluge pointed out that Europe had already dealt with mpox successfully before, thanks to working closely with the communities most affected.
Mpox spreads through close contact, including sexual contact. Unlike COVID-19, it doesn’t spread easily through the air. The new Clade Ib strain, which has been found in Sweden and is linked to outbreaks in Africa, is causing some concern because it spreads more readily through regular close contact.
The WHO has been focusing on this new strain while continuing to manage the less severe Clade II variety, which has been spreading globally since last year. Kluge stressed that how we handle mpox now will be crucial. He warned against falling into a cycle of panic and neglect, urging a balanced response.
In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that mpox is currently a low risk. They haven’t found any cases of the Clade I variant there yet. The CDC is keeping an eye on the situation and will update the public if anything changes, especially if this new variant starts spreading more widely.
While mpox is a concern, there’s no need for drastic measures like lockdowns at the moment. The focus remains on controlling the virus through proper health advice and vigilance. Stay informed and prepared, but there’s no reason to panic just yet!
GGI Take on Mpox
GreatGameInternational has put together a detailed investigation on how Monkeypox was artificially created and what you can do to protect your family and friends from this engineered virus.
Bird flu has made headlines recently, but it’s not just affecting birds anymore. The H5N1 strain, which was once mostly confined to avian species, has now started spreading to cows and even humans. This troubling shift could be linked to a type of research called Gain-of-Function (GOF) studies, which aim to make viruses more transmissible to better understand their potential risks.
The H5N1 virus, particularly a strain known as clade 2.3.4.4b, was first spotted in wild birds in the U.S. in late 2021. By late 2023, it had begun infecting dairy cows, which is unusual since cows are not typical hosts for bird flu. The virus has even been transmitted to people who had close contact with these infected cows, raising alarms about its potential to spread between different species.
Scientists are especially worried because the virus seems to be evolving rapidly, possibly due to controversial GOF research. This research, which is intended to enhance our understanding of how viruses might become more dangerous, involves altering viruses to spread more easily. Some researchers fear that this type of experimentation could inadvertently make viruses more harmful.
The involvement of labs in the U.S., U.K., and China in this research has sparked concerns about the safety and ethics of manipulating such viruses. Given the serious implications, there’s a push for more scrutiny and caution in how these experiments are conducted.
In summary, the bird flu’s leap to cows and humans, coupled with the possibility of risky lab research, has experts on edge. As the virus evolves, so do the questions about how we handle and study dangerous pathogens.
