MPox is Now a Global Emergency.

👀 3 minute read

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Here’s what we’ve got for you this week:

📉We’ve Almost Reached the Population Peak of Human Civilisation

💊 The Weekly Dose

🦠 WHO Declares Mpox a Global Emergency: What You Need to Know

CASE STUDY
📉 We’ve Almost Reached the Population Peak of Human Civilisation

Remember when everyone was freaking out about overpopulation?

Well, surprise.

We’ve gone the other way.

Forget the doomsday predictions from Paul Ehrlich’s 1968 hit, The Population Bomb. The real bombshell? Our global headcount is shrinking—and fast. 

This isn’t just a trend team; it’s a seismic shift.

What’s Happening to the Population?

In the heyday of the 1950s, the average family had about five children. Fast forward to today and that number has dropped significantly to just two.

This decline is reflected in the global total fertility rate (TFR), now at 2.2 children per woman. The TFR represents the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime.

This is just the average people.

For instance, South Korea's TFR is alarmingly low at 0.72, and Serbia's rate isn't far off. These figures indicate that these countries are not currently maintaining their population levels.

In saying that, it’s good to see Chad is having a lot of fun at the other end of the scale, with each woman having an average of seven kids.

What Does the Future Hold?

Here’s the 2050 crystal ball: The global TFR is set to slide down to about 1.8—way under the 2.1 mark needed to maintain the population. 

Looking even further ahead, it gets grimmer.

By 2100, we’re expecting just six countries to maintain a TFR above 2.1. Most of Europe and parts of Asia are forecasted to see their rates sink even lower, well into the 1s.

What’s causing the Baby Bust?

This phenomenon, known as the "baby bust," is driven by several factors:

Birth control, shifting career priorities and more women in school and the workforce have a part to play.

There are also more complex issues due to increasing isolation in a tech-dominated world, diminishing relationships and lowering sperm counts due to our environment.

And where once having kids was the norm – there is now a trend of “Childfreeness” where people actively choose not to multiply.

Isn’t this a good thing?

You’d think this news would result in a big, global sigh of relief right?

Unfortunately, not.

While less population means fewer mouths to feed, having a decreasing population can be dangerous due to the large number of oldies on the planet.

Here’s what will happen when our population decreases:

• An increase in the aging population means more public resources being used. There aren’t enough young ones to support everyone through taxes

• After a mass exodus of oldies, there won’t be enough workers to keep the economy going

• Healthcare systems will be strained as gran and grandpa’s require a lot more healthcare services

• Pension plans might start looking shaky as more people cash out and fewer people chip in - cue the retirement-age recalculations

Want to know a crazy fact? – we are going to reach the peak population of human civilisation within our lifetime. Predicted to be in 2060.

THE WEEKLY DOSE

• The FDA rejects Lykos Therapeutics’ MDMA therapy for PTSD.

• Unfortunately, a new study has shown that even light consumption of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer.

• A child in Gaza has contracted the first case of Polio in 25 years.

• FDA approves first nasal spray for allergy anaphylaxis.

ANNOUNCEMENT
WHO Declares Mpox a Global Emergency: What You Need to Know 🦠 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has just raised the alarm: the mpox outbreak in Africa is now a global health emergency. Here’s what you need to know.

What’s the Scoop?

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is making headlines again. The WHO's emergency committee declared it a global health emergency after a new, more dangerous strain—clade Ib—has spread to several new countries in Africa. This strain had been mostly contained in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) but is now showing up in regions previously unaffected.

The virus seems to have taken a vacation from its home in Africa this week - ending up in Sweden. This is the first report of the clade Ib infection outside of Africa.

Why the Panic?

Here’s the lowdown: Mpox, though previously limited to Central and West Africa, has started spreading beyond. This outbreak has already seen over 17,000 cases and 500 deaths in 13 African countries this year. The DRC is particularly hard-hit, reporting 96% of the recent cases. The new clade Ib is particularly concerning due to its higher severity and potential for wider spread.

For decades, the disease had largely been found in Central and West Africa, but it also began spreading in Europe and North America in 2022.

How Does Mpox Spread?

Mpox spreads through close contact with infected individuals or animals. This includes touching, kissing, sex or even sharing contaminated items like bedding, clothing or needles. Symptoms are pretty rough: fever, rash, headaches, muscle aches, low energy, lower back pain and swollen lymph nodes.

What’s Being Done?

The WHO has pulled out all the stops. They’re calling for international cooperation to fight this outbreak. The organisation has approved the use of mpox vaccines and is ramping up production. They’ve also launched a $15 million regional response plan, with an initial $1.5 million already allocated.

Vaccines are on the way—half a million doses are currently in stock, and 2.4 million more could be produced by year’s end. These will first head to the DRC and Nigeria. But vaccines alone won’t cut it. Increased surveillance, better diagnostics, and ongoing research are crucial to understanding and controlling the virus.

What Should You Do?

If you’ve got an African Safari holiday booked this month, it’s best to be wary.

If you’re traveling to affected regions, stay informed and take precautions. Follow local health guidelines, avoid close contact with sick individuals and practice good hygiene.