Monkeypox caused two additional deaths in countries where it is not endemic. The first cases of local spread have been identified, says the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva.
According to its figures published Wednesday evening and which carry until Monday, more than 6000 confirmed cases have been observed since the beginning of January in dozens of countries, including Switzerland. In ten days, they increased by 77%.
For the first time, some of them have no epidemiological link with the states of West and Central Africa where the pathology is endemic. A dozen countries have not observed any new infections for more than three weeks, the maximum incubation period.
Symptoms of monkeypox include a high fever quickly changing to a rash. Very often without consequence, the pathology lasts only two to three weeks. A vaccine exists, but the WHO does not currently recommend a massive campaign in the various countries.
Now a total of three people have died, compared to one in the previous WHO assessment. Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also said on Wednesday that he would once more schedule an Emergency Committee in two weeks at the latest to decide on a possible health emergency of international concern.
/ATS
