A vaccine that protects against monkeypox is available today in the most affected countries (Alain Jokar / AFP)
Today, Saturday, the WHO Regional Office for Europe said that it is possible to expect more deaths linked tomonkeypoxAfter reports of the first deaths outside Africa, stressing that serious complications of the disease are still rare.
Said the chief emergency official in World Health Organization In Europe, Catherine Smallwood said in a statement that “with the continuing spread of monkeypox in EuropeWe expect more deaths.” Smallwood said that it is necessary to “stop transmission quickly in Europe and stop the spread of the disease.” However, she stressed that in most cases, patients recover without the need for treatment.
Smallwood noted that “reporting of deaths associated with monkeypox does not change our assessment of the outbreak in Europe. We know that although it resolves on its own in most cases, monkeypox is capable of causing serious complications.”
The Spanish Ministry of Health recorded a second death linked to monkeypox today, Saturday, a day after Spain and Brazil announced two first reported deaths. It is estimated that these three deaths are the first linked to the outbreak outside Africa.
The Spanish authorities did not reveal the exact cause of the first death, pending the result of the autopsy, while the Brazilian authorities indicated that the man who died was being treated for a serious health condition.
“Reasons that patients may usually need to be hospitalized include assistance with pain relief, treatment of secondary infections and, in a small number of cases, the need to manage life-threatening complications such as encephalitis,” Smallwood said.
According to World Health Organization data, more than 18,000 cases have been recorded worldwide outside Africa since the beginning of last May, most of them in Europe. A week ago, the WHO declared the monkeypox outbreak a “public health emergency of global concern”.
Early signs of illness include a high temperature, swollen lymph glands, and a chickenpox-like rash. The disease usually clears up on its own after two to three weeks, and sometimes it may take an entire month. Also, a smallpox vaccine provides protection against monkeypox, and this vaccine is marketed by the Danish company “Bavaria Nordic” under the name “Genius” in the United States of America and “Emphanx” in Europe.
(AFP)