More cases of monkeypox are expected to be detected as surveillance is expanded in countries where the disease is not normally detected, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
The WHO pointed out that as of the 21st, 92 confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases have been reported from 12 member states that are not endemic for monkeypox virus.
WHO will provide further guidance and advice to countries on how to slow the spread of monkeypox in the coming days.
The WHO said that available information indicates that human-to-human transmission occurs in close physical contact with a symptomatic person.
Monkeypox is a usually mild infectious disease that is endemic in parts of West and Central Africa. The virus is transmitted through close contact, so it can be controlled relatively easily through measures such as self-isolation and hygiene.
David Heymann, a WHO official and infectious disease expert, said that what seems to be happening now is that it has entered the population by means of sexual behavior, the way of genitals, and it has spread like a sexually transmitted infection, and has been in the population. Spread its contagion globally.
Hyman said an international committee of experts has met via videoconference to see what research needs to be done on monkeypox outbreaks and communications to the general public, including whether there is any asymptomatic transmission, who is at greatest risk, and how the virus is Path of infection.
He said the meeting was held because of “the urgency of the situation”.
The committee is not a group that recommends declaring a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC). PHEIC is WHO’s highest level alert for the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
Close contact is the main route of transmission because the typical lesions of the disease are very contagious, Hyman said. For example, parents caring for sick children are at risk, as are health workers, which is why some countries have begun using the smallpox vaccine to treat monkeypox patients. Smallpox is a related virus.
Many of the current cases are found in sexual health clinics.
Preliminary genome sequencing of a small number of cases in Europe has hinted at a strain similar to the limited spread of the virus in the UK, Israel and Singapore in 2018.
Hyman said it was “biologically plausible” that the virus had been spreading in countries outside its endemic areas without major outbreaks due to COVID-19 lockdowns, social distancing and travel restrictions.
He stressed that the monkeypox outbreak was different from the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak because it was not so contagious. Those who suspect they may have been exposed or develop symptoms including rash and fever should avoid close contact with others. “There are vaccines available, but the most important message is that you can protect yourself.”