The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging calm amid rising concerns about mpox, emphasizing it’s \"not the new COVID-19\" despite a newly identified strain sparking global headlines. 🧪 Hans Kluge, WHO’s Europe director, stressed that health systems \"can and must tackle mpox together\" to avoid cycles of panic and neglect. Here’s the breakdown:
Mpox vs. COVID-19: Key Differences Explained 🧬
Unlike COVID-19, mpox mainly spreads through close physical or sexual contact, not airborne transmission. While the new clade 1b variant has caused alarm due to its potential for easier spread in close-contact settings, WHO confirms there’s no need for mask mandates—yet. About 100 monthly cases of the milder clade 2 strain are still reported in Europe.
Why Is Mpox Back in Headlines? 📰
After a clade 1b case was detected in Sweden—the first outside Africa—the WHO declared the outbreak a global public health emergency. The variant is linked to an ongoing African outbreak that has claimed over 570 lives. But WHO officials say existing tools, like health advisories and surveillance, can curb its spread if nations act swiftly.
Kluge’s call to action: \"How we respond now…will prove a critical test for the world.\" 🌐 The focus? Strengthening global cooperation to avoid repeating pandemic-era chaos.
