Mpox, dengue fever and covid among health threats for 2024, according to experts – The Mirror

Monkey pox, dengue fever and the scourge of covid could all devastate the vulnerable in 2024 according to Dr Maria Van Kerkhove from the World Health Organisation

The World Health Organisation has warned that climate change and sexual transmission could be behind two health threats in the coming year.

Looking ahead to 2024 monkey pox, dengue fever and the scourge of covid could all devastating impacts for the vulnerable. Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, an expert on infectious diseases, who leads the WHO's Department for Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention has spoken about the trio of threats.

Speaking to Sky News Dr Van Kerkhove has said the uptake for coronavirus vaccines around the world has been "abysmal" and it is therefore no surprise to her that cases are on the rise once again. She says that targeted vaccine programmes for the elderly and vulnerable around the world, like there is for flu would make a marked difference.

"The vaccination coverage in all countries of the at-risk groups is abysmalfor me, this is the biggest frustration. Covid-19 actually has solutions, influenza has solutions, that can prevent severe disease and death. Why aren't we using them?"

Mosquitoes carrying diseases such as Dengue Fever, which is an infection currently rare in the UK, could be on the move towards the country. According to the the NHS Dengue Fever symptoms include:

Dr Van Kerkhove has warned that by 2040 it could be common in the UK as climate change means mosquitoes are migrating further and further north as our climate gets warmer.

She told Sky: "It really illustrates the challenges because you have the mosquitoes going further north and further south. Countries like Italy are seeing dengue transmission within their borders that they've never experienced before. This is not a theoretical risk into the future. It's happening now and it has to be addressed now."

Mpox is a rare infection most commonly found in west or central Africa. There has recently been an increase in cases in the UK, but the risk of catching it is low, according to the NHS. But Dr Van Kerkhove has warned that the disease is passed on through sexual contact, and is already in "sexual networks".

She said: "We have a huge outbreak which is now in sexual networks. Once this virus gets into sexual networks it can transmit quite efficiently between people."

According to the NHS anyone can get mpox, currently most cases have been in men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with other men, so it's particularly important to be aware of the symptoms if you're in these groups. If you get infected with mpox, it usually takes between 5 and 21 days for the first symptoms to appear.

The first symptoms of mpox include:

A rash usually appears 1 to 5 days after the first symptoms. The rash often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body. This can include the mouth, genitals and anus. You may also have anal pain or bleeding from your bottom.

The rash is sometimes confused with chickenpox. It starts as raised spots, which turn into small blisters filled with fluid. These blisters eventually form scabs which later fall off. The symptoms usually clear up in a few weeks. While you have symptoms, you can pass mpox on to other people.

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Mpox, dengue fever and covid among health threats for 2024, according to experts - The Mirror