World Health Organization: Mpox is a global public health emergency
For the second time in two years, the World Health Organization has declared Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, a global public health emergency.
Due to a current smallpox outbreak that began in Central Africa and is now spreading, the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency this week.
Al Jazeera reported that more than 17,000 cases have been confirmed in various African countries, and there are also cases in Europe and Asia.
The current outbreak of Mpox disease, formerly known as monkeypox, is due to a variant called “Clade 1,” which is more deadly than a strain that spread in 2022.
According to the Africa CDC’s emergency response group, the current variant has a mortality rate of 3 to 4 percent, compared to 0.2 percent during the 2022 outbreak.
According to health authorities, Mpox does not have pandemic potential because it is not an airborne pathogen. Rather, the virus is transmitted through skin contact.
However, last year scientists discovered a mutation of this variant that allowed for a sexually transmitted variant. Many transmissions in the Democratic Republic of Congo occurred through heterosexual prostitution, the study says.
In a bulletin published this week, the American CDC stated that the risk to the general population in the USA is low. No cases have been reported here so far.
Symptoms of Mpox include fever, difficulty breathing, muscle aches, swollen nodes, and a rash on the hands, feet, chest, mouth, and genitals.
People who have already had Mpox or are fully vaccinated against the virus should be protected from this new variant, the CDC reported.
To prevent infection, the CDC recommends: Avoid close contact with infected people, do not touch materials used by infected people, avoid contact with wildlife or using or consuming wildlife products. You can also get vaccinated.
Mpox Vaccination Sites in New Jersey
Here are some Mpox vaccination sites listed by the New Jersey Department of Health:
Alliance Community Health Care of Hudson County
- Address: 115 Christopher Columbus Drive, Jersey City, NJ 07302
- Phone: (201) 451-6300
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Bergen County
- Address: 230 East Ridgewood Ave., Paramus, NJ 07652
- Phone: (800) 730-2762
Camden County Health and Human Services Department
- Address: 512 Lakeland Road, Suite 524
- Phone: (856) 374-6000
Health Department of the City of Elizabeth in Union County
- Address: 418 Palmer Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202
- Phone: (908) 820-4250
Health Department of the City of Vineland in Cumberland County
- Address: Inquire about location.
- Phone: 856-794-4000 extension 4806
Cooper University Hospital in Camden County
- Address: 300 Broadway, Camden, NJ 08103
- Phone: (856) 968-7100
Cumberland County Health Department
- Address: Call for locations.
- Phone: 856-327-7602 extension 7120
Medical Center in Bergen County
- Address: 75 Summit Ave, Suite 200, Hackensack, NJ 07601
- Phone: (201) 734-5853
Eric B. Chandler Health Center of Middlesex County
- Address: 277 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
- Phone: (732) 235-6733
Hamilton Division of Health in Mercer County
- Address: 2100 Greenwood Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08609
- Phone: (609) 890-3884 or (609) 890-3825
Henry J. Austin Health Center in Mercer County
- Address: 321 N Warren Street, Trenton, NJ 08618
- Phone: (609) 278-5900
Monmouth County Health Department
- Address: 50 East Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728
- Phone: (732) 431-7456
Neighborhood Health Services in Union County
- Address: 1700 Myrtle Ave, Plainfield, NJ 07063
- Phone: (908) 540-0229
North Jersey Community Research Initiative in Essex County
- Address: Call for locations.
- Phone: (987) 483-3444 ext. 200
Occupational and Community Health Services in Hudson County
- Address: 3300 Hudson Avenue, Union City, NJ 07087
- Phone: (201) 325-8002
Ocean County Health Department
- Address: 175 Sunset Ave, Toms River, NJ 08755
- Details: Visit the website to schedule your appointment.
Passaic County Health Department
- Address: 930 Riverview Suite 250, Totowa, NJ 07512
- Phone: (973) 811-4396
Somerset County Health Department
- Address: 27 Warren St, Somerville, NJ 08876
- Phone: (908) 231-7155
Virtua Pride Primary Care in Burlington County
- Address: 534 Lippincott Dr, Marlton, NJ 08053
- Phone: (856) 355-7144
Chance Health Center of Morris County
- Address: 18 West Blackwell Street, Dover, New Jersey 07801
- Phone: (973) 891-3419