MPox Virus Outbreak Canada: Why Tackling Outbreaks in Africa Is Crucial for Global Safety

The WHO had recently designated Mpox as a global public health emergency.

The disease spread across many new regions in Africa and the virus which causes Mpox has evolved into a more severe strain, known as “Clade Ib” whose symptoms are more severe with a higher rate of morbidity.

As the crisis escalates in Africa, global efforts are required to curb the virus’s spread.

MPox Virus Outbreak in Canada?

Canadian experts have called for a concerted global effort to control the outbreak and prevent its spread to other regions, including Canada.

Dr. Madhukar Pai, Canada Research Chair in epidemiology and global health at McGill University stated that the world has become interconnected and concerted and joint efforts are needed to tackle global health crises. Pai stated,

 “Where there is a fire, we all put it out quickly, and the whole village is safe. If you allow one house to burn in a village, sooner or later, that fire is coming for you,”

The adage perfectly fits in the present situation and there is a need to tackle the crisis in Africa to stop it becoming a global health threat.

Mpox, which was earlier known as Monkeypox but has been now designated as Clade keeping in view the stigma associated with Mpox and its origins in Africa.

The reservoir of the virus is in animals and the disease is primarily seen among the population of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) but it has spread alarmingly into the neighbouring countries Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—regions previously unreported for this virus.

What has worried the health officials is the development of a new and more severe strain, known as Clade Ib.

The new strain is more virulent and the symptoms are much more severe than the Clade I strain.

The risk of the virus spreading across Africa into other countries is very real. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is spearheading the efforts to manage the outbreaks. However, support from other nations is also required.

An emergency committee of independent experts has expressed worry about the virus’s potential to spread further within Africa and possibly beyond the continent. is at the forefront of this, but substantial support is needed from other nations.

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