logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
12m 23s

Mpox: What does the new strain mean for ...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

A new strain of the mpox virus is spreading quickly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and experts say it is the most dangerous variant they have seen.

We chat to Makuochi Okafor, a BBC Africa health reporter, who explains the symptoms of mpox, why scientists changed its name, and how people can protect themselves. He also describes what we know about the new variant.

In 2022, a global outbreak of the virus spread across the world. The World Health Organisation said more than 87,000 cases were recorded in 111 countries. We hear what it was like for some people who caught it.

And BBC Health reporter Philippa Roxby tells us how that outbreak was controlled, and the role public information and vaccines played. With not enough vaccines in Africa, can authorities stop the spread this time?

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, William Lee Adams and Mora Morrison Editor: Verity Wilde

Up next
Yesterday
Rare earths - The most important minerals you probably haven’t heard of
Rare earth minerals are vital to modern human life - but you probably haven’t heard of them. They’re in our phones, computers and cars. These minerals aren’t actually that rare, but they’re difficult to extract - and this process can be pretty damaging to the environment. Mining ... Show More
11m 48s
Jul 8
‘I replaced my therapist with an AI chatbot’
From drafting emails to planning trips, AI has become like a personal assistant for lots of people around the world. Now, the technology is playing a new role: therapist. Rather than waiting for an appointment or paying to see a professional, thousands of people are turning to AI ... Show More
14m 31s
Jul 7
Meet Velvet Sundown - the band that doesn’t really exist
The Velvet Sundown have become a viral hit. The band have over a million streams on Spotify and are generating much discussion across the music community. Except the band and its members don’t actually exist. After weeks of speculation about whether they were real or not, the ban ... Show More
11m 14s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
How worried should humans be about bird flu?
The H5N1 bird flu virus has spread from birds to dairy cattle in the United States where a number of agricultural workers have also been infected by it. This is thought to be the first time humans have caught the virus from another mammal and the first time the virus has been det ... Show More
23m 1s
Feb 2025
How Close Are We to Another Pandemic?
An outbreak of bird flu has been tearing through the nation’s dairy farms and infecting more and more people.Now there are troubling signs that the United States may be closer to another pandemic, even as President Trump dismantles the country’s public health system.Apoorva Manda ... Show More
25m 6s
Mar 2025
The Growing Danger of Measles
A measles outbreak continues to spread in Texas. More than 200 people have been infected. One child has died. And health experts are now concerned that low vaccination rates will make it harder to contain.Teddy Rosenbluth, a health reporter at The New York Times, explains the rap ... Show More
26m 2s
Feb 2025
Measles Outbreak in Texas | How Parents Can Get Teens Excited About School & Learning
Texas is facing its largest measles outbreak in decades. At least 124 people have come down with the virus — mostly kids and those who are not vaccinated. The outbreak has spread across nine counties. Omar Villafranca has more.This summer, the family trip to a national forest cou ... Show More
39m 27s
Dec 2023
Loneliness epidemic unmasked: a global health challenge
US health officials have declared that the country is facing an epidemic of loneliness that's as dangerous to health as smoking. The World Health Organisation has launched a commission to look into the health implications of loneliness with surveys consistently suggesting that on ... Show More
25m 2s
Sep 2024
The race to understand mpox
Last month the World Health Organization declared the recent mpox outbreak that began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo a public health emergency of international concern. As scientists race to find out more about the new strain, Ian Sample talks to Trudie Lang, professor o ... Show More
16m 35s
Feb 2025
Should we be worried about bird flu?
Today we’re talking about bird flu. It’s infecting flocks of chickens, causing egg prices to rise across the country, plus herds of dairy cattle and people are getting sick too. And all of this is happening amid sweeping changes at U.S. federal health agencies. The Trump administ ... Show More
17m 50s
May 2016
Ron Klain on why we beat Ebola — but are losing on Zika
Only a few people know what it's like to lead the White House's response to a public health crisis. Ron Klain is one of them. He was chosen in 2014 by President Obama to steer the U.S. effort to fight Ebola, just when it looked like the outbreak was about to spiral out of control ... Show More
50m 36s
Aug 2024
University Challenged
Today, thousands of students receive their results from A-level, T-level, BTec Nationals and other Level 3 qualifications. Adam is opening Newscast University for one day only! He’s joined by BBC education editor Branwen Jeffreys, who tells us what today’s results reveal about th ... Show More
34m 7s
May 2024
How can genetically engineered mosquitoes stop malaria?
The first batch of genetically modified mosquitoes is being released in Djibouti in a bid to stop the spread of malaria carrying vectors that bite during the day and thrive in urban areas. How does this work?Also, an overview of South Africa's 'historic' elections.   Who are the ... Show More
30m 11s