The World Health Organization (WHO) said Sunday that monkey pox is still a “moderate risk” to global public health overall, following reports of infections in countries where the disease has not been detected so far.
“The risk to public health could be greater if the virus seizes the opportunity and establishes itself as a human pathogen, spreading to higher-risk groups to become seriously ill, such as young children and those who are immunosuppressed,” he said. WHERE.
Until May 26, in total 257 confirmed cases of infection and 120 suspected cases were recorded in 23 WHO member countries in which the virus is not endemic, as stated in a statement by the WHO. No deaths have been reported so far.
According to the WHO, the sudden appearance of smallpox in several countries where it was not endemic, suggests that there was a transmission, which was not detected for a long time, but also recent events that strengthened the transmission.
The WHO added that it expects more incidents to be recorded as surveillance expands.
Smallpox is a contagious disease that is usually mild and is endemic to parts of West and Central Africa. The disease is transmitted after close contact, while it can be treated relatively easily, by implementing measures such as self-isolation and adherence to hygiene measures.
Most of the cases reported so far have been identified in the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal. “Most of the reported cases of infection so far are not well-established through travel to an endemic area and were detected through primary health care or sexual health-related services,” according to the WHO.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
