Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated that the monkeypox virus is seen in 92 countries and the number of cases worldwide has exceeded 35 thousand, and that 12 people died due to the virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) held a press conference to discuss and inform the public about monkeypox Virus , Covid-19 And Other Global Health Problems. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the monkeypox virus has been seen in 92 countries so far, and the number of cases worldwide has exceeded 35 thousand, and that 12 people have died due to the virus.
Ghebreyesus, who pointed out that almost all cases of monkeypox
virus are male, said, “Almost all cases continue to be reported among males who have been with males. Protecting health and human rights, designing and delivering tailored services and information to these communities remains important to all countries. “The primary focus for all countries should be to ensure their readiness for monkeypox and containment by using effective public health tools, including risk reduction measures,” he said.
“MANY COUNTRIES HAVE HIGH DEMAND FOR VACCINES”
Stating that vaccines can play an important role in controlling the epidemic, Ghebreyesus said, “There is a high demand for vaccines in many countries. However, at this stage, data on the supply of vaccines and their efficacy are limited.” Referring to the unequal vaccine access between countries during the Covid-19 epidemic, Ghebreyesus said, “We are concerned that the unfair access to vaccines we saw during the Covid-19 pandemic will be repeated and the poorest will continue to lag behind. He added that work is underway to rename the monkeypox virus.
Pointing
out that the cases and loss of life have increased rapidly in the last weeks in the Covid-19 epidemic, Ghebreyesus announced that the deaths reported globally due to Covid-19 have increased by 35 percent in the last 4 weeks. Ghebreyesus said, “Just last week, 15,000 people worldwide died due to Covid-19. This is unacceptable as we have all the tools to prevent infections and save lives. We are all tired of this virus and the pandemic. But the virus has not tired of us. Omicron to be the dominant variant. continues, and the BA.5 subvariant represents more than 90 percent of the spread.”
Ghebreyesus drew attention to the approach of COLD WEATHER Pointing
out that colder weather is approaching in the northern hemisphere and people will spend more time indoors, Ghebreyesus said, “The risks of more intense infection and hospitalization will increase in the coming months. This applies not only to Covid-19, but also to other diseases, including the flu. But we are not helpless. Please get vaccinated and booster vaccine if you haven’t been vaccinated,” he said.
Ghebreyesus, who advises to prevent the spread of Covid
-19, said, “We can’t live with 15 thousand deaths per week. “We can’t live with unequal access to other tools. Learning to live with Covid-19 doesn’t mean we pretend we’re not there. It means we use the tools we have to protect ourselves and protect others.”
“PEACE IS THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE THE CRISIS”
Ghebreyesus, drawing attention to the food shortage, which is a growing problem especially in African countries, said, “Millions of people are now facing hunger in Africa, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda .“Hunger and malnutrition pose a direct threat to health and also weaken the body’s defenses,” said Ghebreyesus. It opens the door to diseases such as pneumonia, measles and cholera. Food insecurity also forces some people to choose between paying for food and healthcare. This mind-blowing persecution of people facing malaria, cholera and more must end. “The only solution is peace,” he said.
Reminding the conflicts in the region due to the rebel movements in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, Ghebreyesus said, “There is a man-made disaster in Tigray, a region of Ethiopia with a population of more than 6 million. This affects more than 6 million people. Despite some food being sent to the region, people still need it. He emphasized that at least basic services should be maintained.