Two new deaths from monkeypox and infections in new areas

The World Health Organization has recorded two new deaths from monkeypox since its last report on June 27, bringing the total deaths to three since the beginning of the year, and said that the disease has spread to new areas.

The organization stated that cases of infection have increased by 77% since the issuance of the previous report, to 6,027 injuries, most of them in Europe. But the report showed that the three deaths occurred in Africa.

The update also showed that more than 99 percent of the cases in which information was available regarding the type of patients, were among men.

The organization added: “The outbreak still affects mainly men who have sexual relations with men … indicating that there is no prevalence of the disease outside this category.”

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the organization will hold a meeting of the committee that will advise on declaring the disease a global health emergency, the organization’s highest alert, during the week of July 18 or sooner.

A spokesperson for the organization confirmed, without elaborating, that Ghebreyesus will meet today with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The data shows that Spain has recorded 802 injuries so far.