WHO reports 780 monkeypox cases in 27 countries

The WHO (World Health Organization) reported that 780 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in 27 countries where the virus is not endemic, and maintains that the global risk level is moderate.

In addition, the number of 780 cases, recorded from May 13 to last Thursday (2), is probably an underestimate due to limited epidemiological and laboratory information.

“It is highly likely that other countries will identify more cases and that the virus will spread further,” it said.

The countries where the virus is not endemic that recorded the most cases are, according to the WHO, the United Kingdom (207), Spain (156), Portugal (138), Canada (58) and Germany (57).

In addition to Europe and North America, some cases were reported in Argentina, Australia, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.

A single case of monkeypox in a non-endemic country is already considered an outbreak.

Monkeypox is a rare disease, less severe than its human version, which causes pustules that proliferate throughout the body, fever, chills and pain, among other symptoms.

“While the risk to human health and the general public remains low, the risk to public health could be high if the virus manages to establish itself in non-endemic countries as a widespread human pathogen,” the organization said.

“The WHO evaluates the global risk as moderate, considering that this is the first time that there are reports of cases of monkeypox simultaneously in non-endemic and endemic countries.”

According to the organization, the endemic countries are: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Gabon and Ivory Coast, in addition to Ghana, where the virus was only identified in animals.