The call of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been confirmed Coronavirus cases up nearly 30% in the past two weekswith an increase in infections in four out of six regions of the world.
Agree to the terms
“Our organizations are still trying to finalize with Pfizer the appropriate terms and conditions for low- and middle-income countries,” he told journalists at his regular weekly briefing. week in Geneva.
“This is delaying access and some countries may choose to wait for a generic version of the antiretroviral, possibly only as early as 2023, and this will cost lives. I urge Pfizer to work closely with health authorities and countries to ensure that its new oral antiviral is delivered quickly and effectively.”
The UN health agency worked with the Global Fund and the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEFto help countries source antiretroviral drugs as they become available.
These include the distribution of Molnupiravir, which 20 countries have secured, and Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir, or Paxlovid, which 43 countries have expressed a desire to obtain.
Variants ‘drive’ waves of infections
Overall, he said that in Europe and the Americas, the subvariables BA.4 and BA.5 are the “wave” of new infections, while in some countries, including India, ” a new subline of BA2.75 has also been discovered, we are monitoring. “
Four out of six WHO Subregions saw an increase in cases last week, and the growing challenge beyond access to new treatments is the decline in testing in many countries and the reality. Just a vaccine protection “not weakened”.
Each wave of the virus, even as hospitalizations and deaths decrease, expose more people to persistent or post-COVID COVID conditionsTedros warned, adding to the burden on patients, loved ones, but also “the health system, the economy and society at large”.
It is essential to accelerate research and development into the “next generation of vaccines, trials and treatments”, he said, and WHO is working with scientists around the world to make this happen. that becomes a reality.
© UNICEF / Dhiraj Singh
An employee works on a COVID-19 vaccine production line in India
‘Scale and spread’ of monkeypox, related to
Above Monkey smallpoxTedros said that he continued “concerns about the scale and spread of the virus“.
Now available more than 6,000 cases recorded in 58 countriesTedros said, noting that it is “very likely” that a significant number of cases are not selected because of limited testing.
Europe is the current epicenter of the outbreak, with more than 80% of cases globally.
In Africa, cases are emerging in previously unaffected countries and record numbers have been confirmed in places that have seen monkey pox before.
© CDC
Monkeypox lesions usually appear on the palms of the hands.
The development of vaccines
The head of WHO said the agency is working with countries and vaccine manufacturers to coordinate the sharing of vaccines, “currently scarce and need to reach those most at risk. “
WHO is also working closely with civil society and the LGBTIQ+ community, especially to Break the stigma surrounding the virus and spread accurate and reliable information so people can protect themselves, he added.
“I want Special commendation to those who are sharing videos online via social media channels talking about their symptoms and experiences with smallpox..
This is a positive way to break the stigma about a virus that can affect anyone.”
