This illustration shows test tubes labeled “Monkeypox virus positive” from May 22, 2022. REUTERS / Dado Ruvic / Illustration
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May 29 (Reuters) – The World Health Organization said on Sunday that monkeypox poses a “moderate risk” to general public health worldwide after cases have been reported in countries where finds the disease.
“The risk to public health could be high if the virus takes the opportunity to establish itself as a human pathogen and spread to groups most at risk for serious diseases, such as young children and immunosuppressed people. said the WHO.
As of May 26, a total of 257 confirmed cases and 120 suspected cases from 23 non-endemic Member States of the virus have been reported, the health agency said in a statement. No fatalities have been reported so far.
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The WHO also said that the sudden appearance of monkeypox at the same time in several non-endemic countries suggests an undetected transmission for some time and recent amplifying events.
The agency added that it expects more cases to be reported as surveillance in endemic and non-endemic countries expands.
Smallpox is an infectious disease that is usually mild and is endemic to parts of West and Central Africa. It is transmitted by close contact, so it can be contained relatively easily through measures such as self-isolation and hygiene. See EXPLAINER: read more
Most of the cases reported so far have been detected in the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal.
“The vast majority of reported cases so far have no established travel links to an endemic area and have been submitted through primary care or sexual health services,” the UN agency said.
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Report by Ann Maria Shibu in Bangalore; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Grant McCool
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