World Health Organization declares extremely deadly monkeypox strain an international public health emergency

The World Health Organization has declared a highly deadly strain of monkeypox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years.

Officials said Wednesday that an outbreak of the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo constitutes a “public health emergency of international concern” — the WHO’s highest alert level.

The hope is that this will speed up research and free up more funding and public health measures to contain the disease, as fears of “international spread within and beyond Africa” ​​grow.

Telltale signs of mpox are skin rash and lesions. Muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, headache and chills are also common