Is the new pandemic gang coming to town monkeypox?

Was bird flu not scary enough?

Time for a bigger, scarier animal.

Looks like the media has gotten their 4 am talking points:

Notice they ALL say “Mpox” instead of monkeypox (except Hindustan Times. I guess they didn’t get the memo).

I’ve never heard that term before.

Someone else noticed that too:

It looks like they're trying the monkeypox schtick again.

But they've rebranded it as 'mpox' to make it sound more scary.

You already know how to avoid contracting this one. 🤐

— ZUBY: (@ZubyMusic) August 8, 2024

The World Health Organization (WHO):

“….Monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.”

WHO's Tedros: "I have decided that the global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern."

"I Have" pic.twitter.com/Ao2kJWdwK0

— Matt Davio (@MissTrade) August 9, 2024

Reuters reports:

Africa’s public health agency is set to declare an mpox emergency as early as next week, saying the viral infection’s rate of spread is alarming, as a new variant moves across Democratic Republic of Congo’s borders.

Mpox is transmitted through close contact and causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Most cases are mild but it can kill.

The new variant, known as Clade Ib and circulating mostly in Congo, appears to spread more easily through routine close contact, as seems to be the case among children.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Director General, Jean Kaseya, said on Thursday that reported cases in Africa had risen by 79% from 2022-2023 and by 160% from 2023-24.

“This is one of the aspects that is alarming us,” he said.

Kaseya added he would have calls with the heads of the African Union (AU) and the African Union Commission on Tuesday to “get their blessing” and guidance to declare a public health emergency – a new power for the continental body. He said that most likely he would make the declaration next week