WHO says more Monkeypox cases expected to to be found

The WHO said it will provide countries further guidance and recommendations in coming days on mitigating monkeypox's spread [FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty-file photo]

The World Health Organization expects to find a more significant number of cases of monkeypox as it improves surveillance in places where the disease is uncommon.

As of Saturday, 92 confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases of monkeypox had been reported from 12 member states that are not endemic to the virus, according to the UN agency, which added that it would provide additional guidance and recommendations to countries in the coming days on how to prevent the spread of monkeypox.

The WHO said, "Available information suggests that human-to-human transmission occurs among people in close physical contact with symptomatic cases."

On Saturday, Israel verified its first case of monkeypox, which officials anticipated would be controlled.

Monkeypox is a typically mild infectious disease widespread in portions of west and central Africa.

It is transmitted through intimate contact. Thus it may be contained quite simply through self-isolation and hygiene.

"What seems to be happening now is that it has got into the population as a sexual form, as a genital form, and is being spread as sexually transmitted infections, which has amplified its transmission around the world," WHO infectious disease specialist David Heymann told Reuters.

Heymann stated that an international committee of experts gathered via video conference to discuss what needs to be examined and conveyed to the public regarding the outbreak, including whether there is an asymptomatic spread, who is most at risk, and the numerous transmission channels.

He explained that the conference was called "because of the situation's urgency."

The committee is not the organization that would propose declaring a public health emergency of international concern, the highest level of notice issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and applicable to the Covid-19 epidemic.

He stated that close contact was the primary transmission mode, as lesions characteristic of the condition are highly infectious.

For instance, parents caring for sick children and healthcare personnel are in danger, so several nations have begun immunizing teams treating monkeypox patients with smallpox vaccines, a related virus.

Sexual health clinics have uncovered the majority of the existing cases.

Early genomic sequencing of a small number of cases in Europe revealed a similarity to the strain that spread in a restricted manner in the United Kingdom, Israel, and Singapore in 2018.

Heymann stated that it was "biologically plausible" that the virus had been spreading outside of its endemic regions but had not caused significant epidemics due to Covid-19 lockdowns, social isolation, and travel limitations.

He emphasized that the monkeypox epidemic did not match the early days of the coronavirus pandemic since it is not as quickly transmitted.

He advised that those who believe they have been exposed or who exhibit symptoms such as a rash with bumps and fever should avoid close contact with others.

He continued, "There are vaccines available, but the most important message is, you can protect yourself,"

Publish : 2022-05-22 08:10:00

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