Editorial

15:17 JST, September 6, 2024

A new strain of the mpox (monkeypox) virus, which easily causes severe illness, is spreading rapidly in central Africa. Although this strain has not yet been found in Japan, it is necessary to remain vigilant.

Mpox is an infectious disease that causes symptoms such as rashes, fever, sore throat and swollen lymph nodes.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo — the epicenter of the infection — more than 18,000 cases have been reported this year, already exceeding the number of people infected last year. More than 600 of them have died this year.

Last month, the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak to be a “public health emergency of international concern,” its highest level of........

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