Monkeypox cases reported in 12 countries, WHO calls emergency meeting

Monkeypox has been confirmed in over 100 cases in at least 12 countries. Another 50 suspected cases are being probed by the World Health Organization, which did not name any nations, and cautioned that additional instances are likely to be reported.

Nine European countries, as well as the United States, Canada, and Australia, have verified infections. Monkeypox is particularly widespread in Central and West Africa’s rural areas.

According to the National Health Service of the United Kingdom, it is an uncommon viral infection that is usually mild and lasts only a few weeks.

The virus is difficult to spread between humans, and the risk to the general public is considered low.

There is no ideal vaccine for monkeypox, but because the two viruses are so similar, a smallpox vaccination provides 85 percent protection. So far, public health agencies in the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and Sweden have confirmed cases.

The new outbreaks “are uncommon, as they are occurring in non-endemic countries,” the WHO said in a statement on Friday.

“Working with affected countries and others to expand disease surveillance to discover and support people who may be afflicted,” it stated.

Why this odd outbreak is occurring now is unknown.

One hypothesis is that the virus has evolved, albeit there is currently little proof that this is a novel strain. Another possibility is that the virus landed in the correct spot at the right moment to thrive.

Monkeypox could potentially spread more quickly than it did previously, when the smallpox vaccine was widely utilised.

“As we enter the summer season… with mass gatherings, festivals, and parties, I am concerned that transmission could accelerate,” WHO Europe regional director Hans Kluge warned.

He went on to say that all but one of the new patients had no relevant travel history to monkeypox-endemic locations.