The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the risk of monkeypox being established in non-endemic countries is real, with more than a thousand confirmed cases in those countries. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the UN health agency did not recommend too much. vaccination against the virus and added that so far no deaths had been reported from the outbreaks. “The risk of monkeypox being established in non-endemic countries is real,” Tedros told a news conference. Zoonotic disease is endemic in humans in nine years. African countries, however, have reported outbreaks over the past month in several other states, mainly in Europe, and especially in Britain, Spain and Portugal. “The disease,” Dr. Tedros said. “So far no deaths have been reported in these countries. Cases have been reported mainly, but not exclusively, among men who have sex with men.” Now there are some countries. beginning to report cases of apparent community transmission, including some cases in women. “Initial symptoms include high fever, swollen lymph nodes and a chickenpox – like blistering rash.
Dr. Tedros said he was particularly concerned about the risk the virus poses to vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and children.
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He said the sudden and unexpected appearance of monkeypox outside endemic countries suggested that there might be undetected transmission for some time, but it was not known for how long. A case of monkeypox in a non-endemic country is considered an outbreak. Dr Tedros said that while this was “clearly worrying”, the virus had been circulating and killing in Africa for decades, with more than 1,400 suspected cases and 66 deaths so far this year.
“Communities living with the threat of this virus every day deserve the same concern, the same care and the same access to tools to protect themselves,” he said.
Vaccines
In the few places where vaccines are available, they are being used to protect those who may be exposed, such as health workers. He added that post-exposure vaccination, ideally within four days, could be considered for high-risk close contacts, such as as sexual partners or household members.
Tedros said the WHO would publish guidelines in the coming days on clinical care, infection prevention and control, vaccination and community protection.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the UN health agency did not recommend mass vaccination against the virus. Source: Press Association / Davor Puklavec / PIXSELL
He said people with symptoms should isolate themselves at home and consult a healthcare worker, while people in the same household should avoid close contact. Few hospitalizations have been reported, apart from isolated patients, the WHO said over the weekend. Sylvie Briand, head of WHO The director of preparedness and prevention for epidemics and pandemics, said the smallpox vaccine could be used against smallpox, another orthopoxvirus, with a high degree of effectiveness.
The WHO is trying to determine how many doses are currently available and find out from manufacturers what their production and distribution capabilities are.