(Bloomberg) — Global cases of monkeypox declined for the first time in a month, led by a drop in infections across Europe, despite growing concerns about a vaccine supply crisis.
New cases worldwide fell 21% in the week ended Aug. 21 from the previous week, as a decline in the number of cases in Europe offset a continued increase in the Americas, it said on Thursday the World Health Organization.
The WHO also noted that 16 countries have not reported new infections for more than three weeks, the maximum incubation period for the disease, although the virus has spread to nearly 100 countries, with a number of cases overall that exceeds 41,000.
The United States saw the largest increase last week, reporting a total of 14,049 cases as of Monday. With a moderating trend in Europe, most new cases are being reported in America, mainly among men who have sex with men.
A steady rise in cases in recent months has left countries scrambling for vaccines, and rising demand has strained production at Bavarian Nordic A/S, the Danish producer of the only vaccine approved so far. now for the disease.
The company has signed an agreement with Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing for the injections in the US, while health authorities there, in the European Union and in the United Kingdom have asked clinics to administer injections at lower doses to stretch the supplies
©2022 Bloomberg LP