The World Health Organization said on Sunday that the sudden onset of smallpox in several countries where the disease is not normally found suggests an undetected transmission for some time and recent amplifying events.
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 WHO said in a statement.
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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.
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Most of the cases reported so far have been detected in the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal.
2:02 Quebec confirms 25 cases of smallpox in the monkey, plans to administer a vaccine Quebec confirms 25 cases of smallpox in the monkey, plans to administer a vaccine
“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.
(Report by Ann Maria Shibu in Bangalore; Edited by Daniel Wallis)