The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday (Jun 25) said that the spread of mpox in Africa needs to be addressed urgently. The scientists warned separately of a "dangerous strain" in the Democratic Republic of Congo.&nbsp;

As reported by the news agency Reuters, Rosamund Lewis, the WHO's technical lead for mpox, said in a briefing note to journalists: "There is a critical need to address the recent surge in mpox cases in Africa."&nbsp;

Mpox is a viral illness transmitted through close contact with infected humans or animals, as well as via materials such as contaminated sheets.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/worlds-first-skull-implanted-epilepsy-device-transforms-uk-boys-life-reduces-daytime-seizures-by-80-percent-734784">Epilepsy device implanted in UK boy’s skull reduces daytime seizures by 80 per cent</a>&nbsp;

The disease led to painful and scarring lesions, principally to the face, anus and genitals. Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash, fever, headache, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes.&nbsp;

The health experts who are dealing with the outbreak called for urgent action in order to contain the spread of a new strain of mpox.&nbsp;

The strain that was spreading there was quite dangerous as it was a modified strain of the clade I mpox that had been endemic in the Congo for decades, the report said.&nbsp;

Its mortality rates are reported to be approximately 10 per cent&nbsp;for children and five per cent&nbsp;for adults.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/researchers-finally-discover-enzyme-that-can-slow-ageing-and-boost-health-734619">Researchers finally discover enzyme that can slow ageing and boost health</a>&nbsp;

"It's undoubtedly the most dangerous so far of all the known strains of mpox considering how it is transmitted, how it is spread and also the symptoms," said&nbsp;John Claude Udahemuka at the University of Rwanda during a separate briefing.&nbsp;

According to Leandre Murhula Masirika of the South Kivu health department, the new strain was first identified in the small mining town of Kamituga in South Kivu province in the east of the DRC in September.&nbsp;

The strain has spread to cities in the area in recent weeks and may already have reached neighbouring countries such as Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.&nbsp;

Cris Kacita, the doctor in charge of operations in the country’s mpox control programme, told Reuters last week that roughly 8,600 mpox cases have been reported in Congo and 410 deaths so far this year.&nbsp;

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📢Now out -🎙️Episode 3 - Not If But When: Mpox<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mpox?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mpox</a> hasn't been in the headlines recently, but it certainly hasn't gone away. Dr Rosamund Lewis, Technical Lead, global mpox response, <a href="https://twitter.com/WHO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WHO</a>, updates us on the current situation. 
 
More in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/podcast?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#podcast</a>👇 
🔗 <a href="https://t.co/7L15QUgNEy">https://t.co/7L15QUgNEy</a> <a href="https://t.co/IIGy451bys">pic.twitter.com/IIGy451bys</a>
— WHO/Europe (@WHO_Europe) <a href="https://twitter.com/WHO_Europe/status/1805890517135180214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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South Africa records third mpox death, cases on the rise in Africa 
 
“Today, mpox remains a public health threat as the situation continues to evolve,“ Rosamund Lewis, WHO technical lead for the infectious disease, said at a UN news conference in Geneva.<a href="https://t.co/4YDe75BtU4">https://t.co/4YDe75BtU4</a>
— SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID-19) (@COVID19_disease) <a href="https://twitter.com/COVID19_disease/status/1805819230484394245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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🤔 Can I recover from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mpox?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mpox</a> at home ⁉️ 
 
ℹ️ Read the infographic to find out 👆<a href="https://twitter.com/WHO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@who</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WHOAFRO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@whoafro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nicd_sa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nicd_sa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UNinSouthAfrica?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@uninsouthafrica</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WHOSouthAfrica?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@whosouthafrica</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HealthZA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@healthza</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MoetiTshidi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@moetitshidi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FNdenzako?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fndenzako</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmuffuh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmuffuh</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@drtedros</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kznhealth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kznhealth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GautengHealth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gautenghealth</a> <a href="https://t.co/oB51cRMRVp">pic.twitter.com/oB51cRMRVp</a>
— WHO South Africa (@WHOSouthAfrica) <a href="https://twitter.com/WHOSouthAfrica/status/1805602868851863941?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Mpox was first discovered in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the spread since then mainly limited to certain West and Central African nations.

But in May 2022, infections surged worldwide, mostly among men who have sex with men, leading the WHO to declare it a global health emergency.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday (Jun 25) said that the spread of mpox in Africa needs to be addressed urgently. The scientists warned separately of a "dangerous strain" in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday (Jun 25) said that the spread of mpox in Africa needs to be addressed urgently. The scientists warned separately of a "dangerous strain" in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As reported by the news agency Reuters, Rosamund Lewis, the WHO's technical lead for mpox, said in a briefing note to journalists: "There is a critical need to address the recent surge in mpox cases in Africa." Mpox is a viral illness transmitted through close contact with infected humans or animals, as well as via materials such as contaminated sheets. Also read: Epilepsy device implanted in UK boy’s skull reduces daytime seizures by 80 per cent The disease led to painful and scarring lesions, principally to the face, anus and genitals. Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash, fever, headache, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes. The health experts who are dealing with the outbreak called for urgent action in order to contain the spread of a new strain of mpox. The strain that was spreading there was quite dangerous as it was a modified strain of the clade I mpox that had been endemic in the Congo for decades, the report said. Its mortality rates are reported to be approximately 10 per cent for children and five per cent for adults. Also read: Researchers finally discover enzyme that can slow ageing and boost health "It's undoubtedly the most dangerous so far of all the known strains of mpox considering how it is transmitted, how it is spread and also the symptoms," said John Claude Udahemuka at the University of Rwanda during a separate briefing. According to Leandre Murhula Masirika of the South Kivu health department, the new strain was first identified in the small mining town of Kamituga in South Kivu province in the east of the DRC in September. The strain has spread to cities in the area in recent weeks and may already have reached neighbouring countries such as Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. Cris Kacita, the doctor in charge of operations in the country’s mpox control programme, told Reuters last week that roughly 8,600 mpox cases have been reported in Congo and 410 deaths so far this year. 📢Now out -🎙️Episode 3 - Not If But When: Mpox#Mpox hasn't been in the headlines recently, but it certainly hasn't gone away. Dr Rosamund Lewis, Technical Lead, global mpox response, @WHO, updates us on the current situation. More in the #podcast👇 🔗 https://t.co/7L15QUgNEy pic.twitter.com/IIGy451bys — WHO/Europe (@WHO_Europe) June 26, 2024 × South Africa records third mpox death, cases on the rise in Africa “Today, mpox remains a public health threat as the situation continues to evolve,“ Rosamund Lewis, WHO technical lead for the infectious disease, said at a UN news conference in Geneva.https://t.co/4YDe75BtU4 — SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID-19) (@COVID19_disease) June 26, 2024 × 🤔 Can I recover from #mpox at home ⁉️ ℹ️ Read the infographic to find out 👆@who @whoafro @nicd_sa @uninsouthafrica @whosouthafrica @healthza @moetitshidi @fndenzako @nmuffuh @drtedros @kznhealth @gautenghealth pic.twitter.com/oB51cRMRVp — WHO South Africa (@WHOSouthAfrica) June 25, 2024 × Mpox was first discovered in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the spread since then mainly limited to certain West and Central African nations. But in May 2022, infections surged worldwide, mostly among men who have sex with men, leading the WHO to declare it a global health emergency. (With inputs from agencies)

Experts warn against 'most dangerous' mpox strain spreading in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Singapore said Monday it will impose a blanket ban on the domestic sale of elephant ivory and products from 2021 as the government tightens its campaign against illegal wildlife trade.

The announcement on World Elephant Day followed two years of consultations with non-government groups, ivory retailers and the public.

Authorities in the city-state made their largest ever seizure of smuggled ivory last month, impounding a haul of nearly nine tonnes of contraband tusks from an estimated 300 African elephants valued at $12.9 million.

The illegal cargo was discovered in a container from the Democratic Republic of the Congo being shipped to Vietnam via Singapore and also included a huge stash of pangolin scales.

Singapore has banned international trade in all forms of elephant ivory products since 1990.

Such items could be sold domestically if traders could prove they were imported before that year or acquired prior to the inclusion of the relevant elephant species in an international convention protecting endangered species.

In a statement Monday, Singapore's National Parks Board banned the sale of elephant ivory and products with effect from September 1, 2021.

Violators face a jail term of up to one year and fines on conviction.

Traders can donate their ivory stocks to institutions or keep them after the ban takes effect, the board said.

Public consultation by the government last year showed that 99 per cent of those who responded were in favour of a total ban.

Elephant ivory is coveted because it can be fashioned into items like combs, pendants and other jewellery.

The global trade in elephant ivory, with rare exceptions, has been outlawed since 1989 after the population of the African giants dropped from millions in the mid-20th century to around 600,000 by the end of the 1980s.

Singapore said Monday it will impose a blanket ban on the domestic sale of elephant ivory and products from 2021 as the government tightens its campaign against illegal wildlife trade.

Singapore said Monday it will impose a blanket ban on the domestic sale of elephant ivory and products from 2021 as the government tightens its campaign against illegal wildlife trade. The announcement on World Elephant Day followed two years of consultations with non-government groups, ivory retailers and the public. Authorities in the city-state made their largest ever seizure of smuggled ivory last month, impounding a haul of nearly nine tonnes of contraband tusks from an estimated 300 African elephants valued at $12.9 million. The illegal cargo was discovered in a container from the Democratic Republic of the Congo being shipped to Vietnam via Singapore and also included a huge stash of pangolin scales. Singapore has banned international trade in all forms of elephant ivory products since 1990. Such items could be sold domestically if traders could prove they were imported before that year or acquired prior to the inclusion of the relevant elephant species in an international convention protecting endangered species. In a statement Monday, Singapore's National Parks Board banned the sale of elephant ivory and products with effect from September 1, 2021. Violators face a jail term of up to one year and fines on conviction. Traders can donate their ivory stocks to institutions or keep them after the ban takes effect, the board said. Public consultation by the government last year showed that 99 per cent of those who responded were in favour of a total ban. Elephant ivory is coveted because it can be fashioned into items like combs, pendants and other jewellery. The global trade in elephant ivory, with rare exceptions, has been outlawed since 1989 after the population of the African giants dropped from millions in the mid-20th century to around 600,000 by the end of the 1980s.

Singapore to ban sale of elephant ivory from 2021

The deadly Ebola outbreak in Congo has now been declared an international emergency, with more than 1,600 people having died in what has become the second-worst outbreak in history.

Doctor who survived Ebola in DR Congo to help

Three cases of Ebola have emerged in Uganda, a neighbouring country to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), officials said on Wednesday (June 12).

New Ebola cases in Uganda raise fears of further spread

The end of an Ebola epidemic that has gripped the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for over six months is hard to predict, a World Health Organisation official told EFE on Sunday. 
 
The outbreak became the second-worst ever recorded, with 475 deaths, among them 421 confirmed cases of the virus and 54 probable, according to the latest figures. 
 
WHO regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, told EFE on the phone chains of transmission and a large number of people were being monitored, which could take months. 
 
This Ebola outbreak, which emerged shortly after DR Congo's government declared an end to another outbreak in the west of the country in June last year, was announced on Aug. 1 in the conflict-affected provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. 
 
Since the beginning of the epidemic, 769 cases of the disease have been recorded, 715 of which are confirmed and 54 others considered likely. 
 
The Botswana-born doctor added they were aware that insecurity limited their access, noting the virus might be spreading in areas they had no access to. 
 
In these red zones where health teams' access is extremely difficult, if not impossible, Moeti said the number of people infected can neither be known nor estimated. 
 
The conflict is not static so there are areas that are safe, but then suddenly an incident takes place, and then all health teams are evacuated, Moeti said. 
 
The doctor explained that Ebola was a disease that needed continuous and daily monitoring, and so closing a health center or evacuating medical personnel meant losing track of cases and allowing the virus to continue spreading. 
 
On Nov. 30, the WHO confirmed that the current Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is now the second-worst in history. 
 
The worst case killed over 11,000 people in West Africa between 2014-2016. 
 
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people or animals, and is widely feared for its mortality rate of up to 90 percent and for causing heavy internal and external bleeding.

The end of an Ebola epidemic that has gripped the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for over six months is hard to predict, a World Health Organisation official told EFE on Sunday.

The end of an Ebola epidemic that has gripped the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for over six months is hard to predict, a World Health Organisation official told EFE on Sunday. The outbreak became the second-worst ever recorded, with 475 deaths, among them 421 confirmed cases of the virus and 54 probable, according to the latest figures. WHO regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, told EFE on the phone chains of transmission and a large number of people were being monitored, which could take months. This Ebola outbreak, which emerged shortly after DR Congo's government declared an end to another outbreak in the west of the country in June last year, was announced on Aug. 1 in the conflict-affected provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. Since the beginning of the epidemic, 769 cases of the disease have been recorded, 715 of which are confirmed and 54 others considered likely. The Botswana-born doctor added they were aware that insecurity limited their access, noting the virus might be spreading in areas they had no access to. In these red zones where health teams' access is extremely difficult, if not impossible, Moeti said the number of people infected can neither be known nor estimated. The conflict is not static so there are areas that are safe, but then suddenly an incident takes place, and then all health teams are evacuated, Moeti said. The doctor explained that Ebola was a disease that needed continuous and daily monitoring, and so closing a health center or evacuating medical personnel meant losing track of cases and allowing the virus to continue spreading. On Nov. 30, the WHO confirmed that the current Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is now the second-worst in history. The worst case killed over 11,000 people in West Africa between 2014-2016. Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people or animals, and is widely feared for its mortality rate of up to 90 percent and for causing heavy internal and external bleeding.

WHO says end of Ebola outbreak difficult to predict