How can monkey acne epidemic become "internationally concerned emergencies of public health incidents"

Author:Look at the think tank Time:2022.07.26

The World Health Organization Director -General Tan Desai announced on the 23rd that monkey acne epidemic in 75 countries and regions has constituted "international concern public health incidents." This is the highest -level alarm issued by the organization's emergencies around the world, and it also means that the new crown epidemic and monkey acne epidemic are at the same time at the same time.

Wen | Liu Qu Jiang Xuelan

This article is reproduced from the WeChat public account "Xinhua International Headline" (ID: InterxinHua). The original first published on July 24, 2022. The original title was "Global Wiring | How Monk Acne Epidemium became a" international concern for public health events "" "

Alert upgrade

In early May of this year, there was a case of diagnostic diagnosis in the United Kingdom, and more European and American countries successively reported monkey acne cases. The epidemic spread quickly in many places around the world. Monkey acne was mainly popular in West Africa and China Africa. Experts of WHO said that in the month, there were cases of monkey acne in many "non -popular countries" that did not contact the disease in the disease, which was a "atypical" situation.

At the end of June, the Emergency Committee of the WHO held a meeting to evaluate the epidemic epidemic that has burst into many places around the world. At that time, there were 47 countries and regions reported at the time, with about 3040 cases. The committee finally reached a consensus that the monkey acne epidemic has not yet constituted "international concerns of emergencies."

This is the outer view of the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on May 20, 2021. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Junxia

On July 21, the WHO Emergency Committee met again to discuss monkey acne epidemic. At this time, 75 countries and regions reported to WHO more than 16,000 cases, including 5 deaths. Although the committee did not reach a consensus in the end, Tan Desai still decided to announce that the epidemic of the monkey acne epidemic has constituted "international concern public health incidents" at a press conference on the 23rd.

Tan Desai emphasized that the committee was only responsible for providing suggestions and reference to the Director -General, and the final decision was in the Director -General.

Multiple considerations

Tan Desai introduced that five factors need to be considered when making this decision. First of all, the information provided by various countries shows that the acne virus has quickly spread to many countries that have never occurred before; second, the three criteria of the "International Health Regulations" announced by the "International Health Regulations", monkeys The acne epidemic has been satisfied; third, although the emergency committee has not reached a consensus, it has provided support for the decision of the general office; fourth, the scientific principles, evidence and other related information of monkey acne are not sufficient, and many unknown counts are still existed. Fifth, monkeys causing risks to human health, may form international communication, and have potential interference with international transportation.

On March 11, 2020, in Geneva, Switzerland, Tan Desai, director of the World Health Organization, spoke at a regular press conference. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Junxia

Tan Desai said that although he announced that the epidemic of the monkey acne has constituted "an international public health incident", he could prevent the epidemic through appropriate strategies.

According to the WHO data, the virus is spread in many countries that have not reported monkey acne before. The number of cases reported by the European and American regions divided by the WHO is the largest. A small number of children who have no knowledge of epidemiology with confirmation cases. In addition, the number of cases in West Africa and China Africa, which had occurred in the past, also increased significantly, most of them women and children.

At present, the WHO's assessment of the epidemic of monkey acne is that European regions are high -risk, and risks in global and other regions are medium.

Prevention and Control Suggestions

Monkey acne is a kind of viral human and animal disease. The pathogenic monkey acne virus is mainly popular in West Africa and China Africa. In 1970, Congo found the first case of human acne infection. Since then, most cases reported in the world are distributed in Congo (Gold), Congo (cloth), the Republic of China, Nigeria, Cameroon and other African countries. Monkey acne virus can be transmitted by animals through close contact. Although interpersonal transmission is not easy to occur, close contact with the infected person may also be infected. The initial symptoms of human infection of monkey acne include fever, headache, muscle soreness, back pain, lymph nodes, etc., and can be developed into a large range of rash on the face and body. Most infected people recover within a few weeks, but some infected people will have severe disease or even death.

On July 14, people vaccinated at a vaccination point in New York, USA. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Guo Ke)

However, the WHO pointed out that in this epidemic, the onset of some cases is different from the past. Its rash lesions are limited to genitals, perineum, perianal or peripheral areas. Symptoms such as lymphadenopathy, fever, pain.

The WHO currently divides the countries and regions where the epidemic is popular into four categories, including countries and regions that have not reported or have not reported cases for more than 21 days; countries and regions that have been entered in the recent cases of monkey acne; Countries and regions spread between animals and humans, as well as countries and regions with diagnosis, vaccine and therapeutic drug manufacturing capabilities.

The WHO gives a series of specific epidemic prevention and control suggestions for the four types of countries and regions, including suggestions to implement coordination measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic, allow the affected communities to participate in prevention and control, strengthen monitoring and public health measures, strengthen hospitals and hospitals and hospitals and hospitals Clinical management and infection and control of the clinic, accelerate the research on the use of vaccines, treatment methods and other tools.