Insights & Introduction to monkeypox virus

Insights & Introduction to monkeypox virus

As of the United Nations bulletin on May 22nd, 2022, there have been 92 confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases in 12 non-monkeypox virus endemic countries around the world since May 13th (Table 1 for details) as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). So far, there have been no related deaths. Table1. Monkeypox cases in non-endemic countries reported to WHO from 13:00 on May 13 to 21, 2022. Source: Vazyme Biotech Co. Ltd. From December 15th, 2021, to May 1st, 2022 (as shown in Table 2), there have been four African countries with…

Read More

WHO to hold 2nd emergency meeting on monkeypox as cases rise to 9,200: Monkeypox may be renamed for a ‘non-discriminatory’ alternative.

WHO to hold 2nd emergency meeting on monkeypox as cases rise to 9,200: Monkeypox may be renamed for a ‘non-discriminatory’ alternative.

Monkeypox is set to be renamed, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced. It comes after a group of scientists said there was an “urgent need for a non-discriminatory and non-stigmatising” name for the virus, which has mysteriously spread outside Africa in recent weeks. A scientific paper released last week, signed by 29 experts, used the term “hMPXV” for the virus and called for a “speedy decision and adoption of a new name”. They said the continued reference to the virus “being African is not only inaccurate but is also…

Read More

Monkeypox virus likely spread by sex at 2 rave parties in Europe: Expert Opinion

Monkeypox virus likely spread by sex at 2 rave parties in Europe: Expert Opinion

LONDON: A leading adviser to the World Health Organization described the unprecedented outbreak of the rare disease monkeypox in developed countries as “a random event” that might be explained by risky sexual behavior at two recent mass events in Europe. In an interview with The Associated Press, Dr. David Heymann, who formerly headed WHO’s emergencies department, said the leading theory to explain the spread of the disease was sexual transmission among gay and bisexual men at two raves held in Spain and Belgium. Monkeypox has not previously triggered widespread outbreaks…

Read More

UN to debate how science and technology can boost COVID-19 recovery

UN to debate how science and technology can boost COVID-19 recovery

Industry 4.0 and the challenges of sustainable urban development will be in focus at the 25th session of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development. Ministers, policymakers, heads of international organizations and leading experts will examine how science, technology and innovation can help the world recover better from the COVID-19 pandemic during 25th session of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development from 28 March to 1 April in Geneva and online. The sessions will focus on the themes of “Industry 4.0 for inclusive development” and…

Read More

PM Justin Trudeau to speak to Canada’s premiers about Omicron variant

PM Justin Trudeau to speak to Canada’s premiers about Omicron variant

Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was expected to speak by phone to the premiers of the country’s 10 provinces on Tuesday to discuss the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus, his office said. The call was set to take place at 6 pm ET (2300 GMT), according to a provincial source, who requested anonymity. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters that Ottawa would act quickly and do what was necessary but gave no details. Separately, the government leader in the House of Commons, Mark Holland, said Liberals…

Read More

Canada Could Soon See Rapid Surge In Covid-19 Cases As Omicron Spreads Locally

Canada Could Soon See Rapid Surge In Covid-19 Cases As Omicron Spreads Locally

COVID-19 cases in Canada may rapidly rise in the coming days due to community spread of the Omicron variant, mirroring the situation in the country’s most populous province of Ontario, Canada’s top health official said on Monday. The surge of COVID-19 cases in Ontario, which accounts for almost 40% of Canada’s population of 39 million people, has prompted the provincial government to suspend easing of restrictions that were planned to be lifted ahead of the holiday season. The province reported 1,536 cases of COVID-19 on Monday, a more-than 70% jump…

Read More

TOP AMERICAN SCIENTIST: OMICRON NOT MORE SEVERE THAN DELTA VARIANT OF COVID-19

TOP AMERICAN SCIENTIST: OMICRON NOT MORE SEVERE THAN DELTA VARIANT OF COVID-19

Top US scientist Anthony Fauci said Tuesday early indications suggested the Covid-19 Omicron variant was not worse than prior strains, and was possibly milder, while cautioning it would take weeks to judge its severity. Speaking to AFP, President Joe Biden’s chief medical advisor broke down the knowns and unknowns about Omicron into three major areas: transmissibility, how well it evades immunity from prior infection and vaccines, and severity of illness. The new variant is “clearly highly transmissible,” very likely more so than Delta, the current dominant global strain, Fauci said….

Read More

Canada’s Omicron infections top double digits as more cases reported

Canada’s Omicron infections top double digits as more cases reported

Infections from the new variant of Covid on Friday crossed double digits in Canada, which includes cases reported in the country’s largest city Toronto, public health officials said.Canada’s chief public health officer Dr Theresa Tam said the country had so far detected 11 infections of the new variant dubbed Omicron, all involving people who had recently travelled abroad, and voiced concerns over its spread.“The emergence and spread of the Omicron variant of concern, including 11 recent detections in travellers coming into Canada and/or their close contacts, is yet another reminder…

Read More

Canada health body recommends Covid booster shots for all adults

Canada health body recommends Covid booster shots for all adults

Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) on Friday recommended booster shots of the Covid for all adults as the new Omicron variant is identified in more countries. Ontario will lower the eligibility age for COVID-19 booster shots to 50 and up by mid-December, adding to a shifting map of booster shot eligibility in Canada. There are calls for provinces and territories to be more cohesive with each other on who gets a booster shot. The Canadian health body, that provides the government with medical and scientific on immunisations, said…

Read More

SIX MORE AMERICAN STATES FIND OMICRON CASES: DELTA STILL TOP U.S. CORONAVIRUS THREAT

SIX MORE AMERICAN STATES FIND OMICRON CASES: DELTA STILL TOP U.S. CORONAVIRUS THREAT

Six more U.S. states confirmed infections of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on Friday but the Delta strain likely remains a greater threat as winter sets in and Americans gather for the holidays, experts said. New Jersey, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Utah each reported their first cases of the Omicron variant on Friday. Missouri was awaiting CDC confirmation of a case involving a St. Louis resident who had recently traveled within the United States. Scientists are still investigating the impact of the highly contagious Omicron variant, which was first…

Read More