The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a new strain of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, a global health emergency.
This announcement by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has sparked a wave of conspiracy theories among supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The WHO have declared an international public health emergency due to new strain of Monkeypox in Africa.
— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) August 14, 2024
We have been waiting for the Deep State to show their hand. This might be it.
They need mass mail-in votes to harvest. Are they about to manufacture another “pandemic”? pic.twitter.com/7kOydwPQt0
Trump supporters claim that the WHO’s decision is part of a broader conspiracy aimed at introducing another pandemic to disrupt the 2024 U.S. presidential election. They argue that the timing of the declaration, just 82 days before the election, is intended to undermine Trump’s campaign.
🚨BREAKING: The World Health Organization WHO declares monkey pox a global health emergency 82 days before the 2024 US Election!
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) August 14, 2024
SCAM!
DO NOT COMPLY!
WE WILL NOT COMPLY! pic.twitter.com/uxrxqf105l
On social media, these supporters are sharing a video of Trump from last year, where he warned, “The left-wing lunatics are trying very hard to bring back Covid lockdowns and mandates with all of their sudden fear-mongering about the new variants that are coming.”
🚨 Trump warns about lockdowns and election fraud with monkeypox.
— Patrick Bet-David - CEO of Valuetainment (Parody) (@notPBD) August 14, 2024
Refuse to comply!
pic.twitter.com/0g2GNLAehA
The announcement has led to a surge in hashtags like #DoNotComply and #WeWillNotComply, as Trump supporters reject any potential health mandates arising from this declaration, labelling it a “scam.”
We will not comply pic.twitter.com/AWUCvzwK9u
— rhonda flick (@rhondajflick) August 15, 2024
The resurgence of mpox, initially identified in 1958, became a global issue in 2022, with Congo experiencing a particularly severe outbreak. A more transmissible variant has resulted in over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths in Africa this year alone.
Historically, mpox primarily affected individuals in central and West Africa who had close contact with infected animals. However, 2022 marked a turning point when the virus was confirmed to spread through sexual contact, leading to outbreaks in over 70 countries that had previously been unaffected, highlighting its global threat.
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