Soaring The current number of monkeypox cases in some 30 countries outside of endemic areas suggests transmission of the virus has gone under the radar for some time, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced last week. ). Research to date indicates that the contagion had already started in Europe in mid-April. This is the largest and most geographically widespread outbreak of monkeypox ever reported outside the endemic areas of West and Central Africa. More than 700 cases in 30 countries — where the disease is not endemic and occurs only very rarely — have been reported since the current outbreak of cases began nearly a month ago.
The WHO fears an increased spread of monkeypox during the summer. For the organization, however, it is not necessary to impose measures as restrictive as for Covid, given that the monkeypox virus is not transmitted in the same way. It is above all a question of containing the epidemic as much as possible. ” WHO urges affected countries to expand surveillance, and track cases in their wider communities “Warned the director of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recalling that anyone might be infected with the virus in the event of close contact with a patient. So far, most of the cases identified relate to ” men who have sex with men “, he specified.
Wave of concern
The arrival in Europe, but also in North America and the Middle East in particular, of a disease usually present in Africa has caused a wave of concern in recent weeks. If the UN health agency expects an increase in the number of cases, there is currently no question of talking regarding a new pandemic. Although the current surge of cases has not yet resulted in deaths, the monkeypox virus has killed every year on the African continent for half a century, pointed out the WHO technical officer for monkeypox. monkey, Dr. Rosamund Lewis.
However, mass vaccination using the human smallpox vaccine, which grants partial immunity once morest monkeypox but whose supplies are currently limited, is not on the agenda. ” The most important thing is to reach these affected communities with accurate information “, explained the specialist. The other priority of the UN Agency today is to protect health professionals in contact with the virus, she concluded. The monkeypox virus has similarities to that of human smallpox, eradicated since the 1980s, when vaccination campaigns once morest this disease ceased. The ensuing decline in immunity in the population might explain the current upsurge in cases, according to the WHO.
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