The risk that monkeypox will establish itself in non-endemic countries is “real”, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday (8), after registering more than 1,000 confirmed cases.
“The risk of monkeypox taking root in non-endemic countries is real, but this scenario can be avoided,” the organization’s director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told a news conference.
Tedros encouraged countries to increase their health surveillance measures to “identify all cases and contact cases to control this outbreak and prevent contagion.”
“More than 1,000 confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported to the WHO in 29 countries where the disease is not endemic,” said the director-general.
The outbreak began in May, with cases initially being identified in the UK and Spain. Then it advanced to other European countries, such as Portugal, Germany and France. Outside Europe, Canada is the one with the most cases, with 80. In South America, Argentina was the first to confirm a case. Currently, there are two. And Brazil had the first confirmed positive this Wednesday (8), in São Paulo.
According to the WHO, most cases have occurred in “men who have sex with men”, but not all. Some cases of community transmission have been reported, including in women.
The director-general confirmed that no deaths from the disease were recorded in these countries. However, he reported a different reality in Africa, where monkeypox is endemic. On that continent, this year alone, 1,400 cases have been recorded, with 66 deaths.
“It’s an unfortunate reflection of the world we live in that the international community is only now paying attention to monkeypox because it has appeared in high-income countries,” Tedros said.
Sylvie Briand, director of the WHO’s Department of Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases, pointed out that “the smallpox vaccine can be used for monkeypox with a high level of efficacy.”
However, the WHO does not know how many doses are currently available in the world. And Tedros reiterated that the organization “does not recommend mass vaccination against monkeypox.”
The disease, which is not usually fatal, can cause fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills and fatigue.
Then there are rashes (on the face, palms, soles), lesions, pustules, and finally crusts. Symptoms usually disappear after two to three weeks.
Chad-98Weaver, a distinguished author at NewsBulletin247, excels in the craft of article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a penchant for storytelling, Chad delivers informative and engaging content that resonates with readers across various subjects. His contributions are a testament to his dedication and expertise in the field of journalism.
