Again? Another pandemic?

 And from Reuters this morning:

The World Health Organization has declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years. We take a look at what that means. 

While the current outbreak is mostly in Africa, in our global environment I would not expect it to be confined there for long. 

We do not need another pandemic! Oh wait, you didn't realize they had renamed monkey pox as mpox? Yup they did. 

So here is the description:

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that can spread easily between people and from infected animals. It can spread through close contact such as touching, kissing or sex, as well as through contaminated materials like sheets, clothing and needles, according to WHO.

The current outbreak, Congo's worst ever, has seen 27,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths since January 2023, largely among children. The disease causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, and is usually mild but can kill. Children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, are all at higher risk of complications.

Two strains of mpox are now spreading in the country: the endemic form of the virus as well as a new offshoot.  (Reuters article)

I guess we need to be aware.

Oh yea, Happy Friday-eve!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL