Ashleigh Furlong, a Bloomberg journalist focusing on health and science, joins the discussion about the recent resurgence of mpox. With a new, deadly strain emerging, the conversation highlights the WHO's declaration of a new global health emergency. Furlong critiques the uneven global response, emphasizing the vaccine access disparities between the West and Africa. She discusses the dire need for prompt vaccine deployment in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where vaccine shortages threaten to exacerbate the outbreak and impact vulnerable communities.
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Quick takeaways
The resurgence of mpox cases has been significantly influenced by the cessation of smallpox vaccinations, allowing the virus to gain a foothold.
Limited access to vaccines and competing health crises have exacerbated the mpox outbreak, highlighting urgent public health resource allocation challenges.
Deep dives
The Power of AI in Business Performance
AI technology is transforming business performance, with notable examples such as Netflix using Intel AI accelerators to enhance streaming capabilities by up to three and a half times. The superior performance of Intel's AI accelerators—30% better than competitors—illustrates how incorporating advanced AI into existing architectures can yield significant efficiencies. Businesses that leverage these technologies can expect performance breakthroughs that drive growth and competitiveness in their respective markets. This shift emphasizes the need for companies to adopt AI solutions to maximize their operational capabilities.
The Unintended Consequences of Smallpox Eradication
The eradication of smallpox, officially declared in 1980, had significant implications for public health, particularly regarding the rise of MPOCs. The cessation of smallpox vaccinations inadvertently permitted the MPOCs virus to gain ground, leading to an increase in cases in certain African nations. Reports indicate that MPOCs has become endemic in West and Central Africa, highlighting the need for renewed focus on vaccination and disease prevention strategies. The situation underscores the delicate balance in public health priorities and the potential ramifications of halting vaccination programs.
Challenges in Containing the MPOCs Outbreak
The MPOCs outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been exacerbated by limited access to vaccines, highlighted by the high cost of around $100 per dose. Efforts to combat MPOCs are hindered by a lack of immediate vaccine availability and competing health crises such as measles, which take precedence in regional healthcare agendas. Public health experts stress that timely action and robust vaccination campaigns are crucial for controlling the outbreak and preventing further global spread. The situation serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in addressing emerging health threats, including resource allocation, public education, and community acceptance.
The World Health Organization declared the last mpox global emergency over in May 2023. And just over a year later, here we are again.
Since the start of 2024, a deadlier, more transmissible strain of the virus has killed about 575 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo and infected 30 times more. New cases have recently appeared in Europe and Asia. In August, the WHO declared a new mpox global health emergency.
Bloomberg’s Ashleigh Furlong joins host Sarah Holder to explain why the latest outbreak could have been avoided — and what it will cost to beat it.