Vaccine equity, but like now

This issue is looking at the latest Mpox outbreak and the age-old debate around equal access to vaccines (spoiler alert: it's very unequal) as well as the safety of journalists in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Myanmar, Mexico and Gaza. Several journalists have lost their lives last week, and I want you to know some of their names. Plus, African women's football, a sci-fi drama in South London, an investigative podcast series about one of the most high-profile war-crimes prosecutions in U.S. history and a documentary on the history of the Sudanese women's movement, and so much more.

The latest Mpox outbreak in the DRC is a reminder that not everyone in the world has equal access to vaccines

What happened:
There's a new strain of the Mpox virus making rounds (because, you know, viruses love to "upgrade"). It's called Clade 1b, and it's mostly spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but it's also popped up in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Thailand, and Sweden. We don't know much about how deadly it is yet, but people do die from it. This year alone, over 450 people have died from Mpox in the DRC. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there are around 14,000 cases in Africa this year---a massive 160% jump from last year. Last week, WHO and the Africa CDC declared this outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The other strain -- Clade 2, far milder, caused a global public health emergency in 2022 -- is still around in many countries.

Why this matters:
These declarations matter. Karl Minges, Ph.D. MPH, a public health expert at the University of New Haven, told PEOPLE that WHO issues these kinds of alerts to push for faster vaccine access in low-income countries. Because, vaccine equity is still not a reality; vaccine equity means ensuring that everyone in the world has equal access to vaccines.

Tell me more:
Mpox is most common in the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa, with thousands of cases each year. It spreads through close contact---like during sex, skin-to-skin contact, or even just talking or breathing near someone. Mpox causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, and while it's usually mild, it can be dangerous for young kids, people with weak immune systems, and pregnant people in places with limited medical resources. But don't worry---outbreaks can be controlled. Mpox isn't as contagious as something like COVID or measles, and it can be stopped.

How?
Raising awareness, tracking close contacts, and vaccinating people can help stop the spread. The issue is that vaccines aren't widely available for those who need them most, especially in Africa. But there's some good news---millions of doses are expected to arrive in the DRC soon, according to the BBC's Flora Drury. Unfortunately, places like Burundi are still waiting. BBC's Mercy Juma reported from Bujumbura, Burundi, where she found that many people didn't even know about Mpox, and those who did had no idea it was spreading in their country.

Why don't we know how deadly it is?
Carissa Wong for The Scientist talked to some experts who said that limited access to healthcare in some areas means only the worst cases of Mpox are being reported, which skews the fatality rates higher. Misdiagnosis is also an issue, with some cases being mistaken for measles or chickenpox. When people do die from Mpox, it's often due to complications like sepsis or lung damage from the virus. Paul Adepoju from The Lancet also highlighted the huge testing challenge, especially in the DRC, where less than 30% of cases might even get tested. The lack of testing and surveillance is making it hard to see the full picture of the outbreak.

What mpox treatments are there?
Well, it depends on where you are. In the DRC and nearby countries at the heart of the outbreak, there aren't many specific treatments for Mpox. Doctors mostly focus on easing symptoms---think paracetamol for fevers and headaches, and cleaning skin lesions to prevent infections. In the UK and US, though, doctors have more options, like the antiviral drug tecovirimat for severe cases, and even treatments involving antibodies against smallpox, reports Wong in The Scientist.

Dive deeper:
Anne Jung wrote some insightful commentary on global health inequality and the latest Mpox outbreak for Medico International. She pointed out that while the word "international" in the WHO's alert should mean global action, the reality is different. Not much is being done. During the COVID-19 pandemic, countries like Germany were against releasing vaccine patents, which hurt global efforts. Plus, there just aren't enough vaccine doses because production slowed down after the 2022 outbreak ended. Mpox remains one of those "neglected diseases" that mostly affects the global South, so it doesn't get much attention from profit-driven pharma companies.

Recommended read:
Stephanie Nolen from The New York Times also criticizes the WHO for slowing down the process of prequalification unnecessarily. "Critics question why the W.H.O. did not act sooner to approve an mpox vaccine, since the virus has never stopped circulating in Congo."

What if I'm traveling to an affected area?
If you're heading somewhere with known Mpox outbreaks, the most important thing is to get vaccinated -- if you can. Heavy on theif.

Zoom out:
Mpox is not the only disease outbreak in the DRC at the moment. And the people who are severely affected by this are those forcefully displaced. "Congo currently has outbreaks of measles and cholera, as well as a severe malaria problem that threatens small children. Hundreds of thousands of people live in camps because they have been displaced by ongoing armed conflicts," writes Nolen in The New York Times.

A suspected Turkish drone strike killed two journalists in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq -- "becoming one of the most dangerous zones for journalists"

What happened:
On August 23, a suspected Turkish drone strike hit a car carrying journalists in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). This attack killed two journalists, Gülistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn, and left several others injured. The team was on their way to film a documentary when the strike occurred, according to reports from Rudaw, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Medya News.

Why this matters:
There's a big issue here---people are saying there's an alarming "get-away-with-it" attitude when it comes to violence against journalists in the region. And let's not forget, journalists...