The use of the first diagnostic mpox test has been approved by WHO.
The disease has been officially detected in 16 countries, according to the African Union’s disease control center with more than 800 deaths.
The WHO said regarding the test,
The approval for emergency use
will be pivotal in expanding diagnostic capacity in countries facing mpox outbreaks, where the need for quick and accurate testing has risen sharply
The mpox test is manufactured by Abbot Molecular Inc, called the Alinity m MPXV assay. It helps detect the mpox virus using swabs taken from the lesions.
The WHO further said,
By detecting DNA from pustular or vesicular rash samples, laboratory and health workers can confirm suspected mpox cases efficiently and effectively
Limited testing capacity and delays in confirming mpox cases persist in Africa, contributing to the continued spread of the virus
Moreover assistant director general WHO, Yukiko Nakatani said, the approval of the test will
represents a significant milestone in expanding testing availability in affected countries
Nakatani said,
Increasing access to quality-assured medical products is central to our efforts in assisting countries to contain the spread of the virus and protect their people, especially in underserved regions
What is mpox?
Previously called monkeypox, the cause of mpox is transmission of virus to humans through infected animals. Moreover, it can also pass from human to human through physical contact.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals but can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact.
The symptoms are fever, muscle aches, and large skin lesions that are boil-like. Additionally, it can be deadly.
