The sudden outbreak of monkeypox in several countries, where the disease is not usually detected, suggests undetected transmission for some time and recent escalating events, the World Health Organization said on Sunday.
Twenty-three non-endemic countries reported a total of 257 confirmed cases and 120 suspected cases to the WHO as of May 26, the agency said in a statement.
Canada reported 26 confirmed WHO cases on Thursday, and another 25 to 35 suspected cases have been investigated, according to the agency’s latest disease update released on Sunday.
The United Kingdom has confirmed 106 cases, Portugal has confirmed 49 cases, while Spain has confirmed 20 cases and another 64 alleged cases are still under investigation.
The agency added that it expects more cases to be reported as surveillance in endemic and non-endemic countries expands.
Monkeypox is an infectious disease that is usually mild and endemic in parts of West and Central Africa. It is spread by close contact, so it can be relatively easily controlled by measures such as self-isolation and hygiene.
“The vast majority of cases reported so far have no established links to travel to an endemic area and are provided through primary care or sexual health services,” the UN agency said.
Based on current information, the WHO does not recommend any restrictions on international travel at present.
Vaccination against monkeypox
The WHO has said it will provide more guidance on case management and infection prevention, as well as the use of vaccines in the coming days.
The monkeypox virus is closely linked to the smallpox virus, which was eradicated worldwide in 1980, and the smallpox vaccine can protect people from contracting monkeypox.
Officials in Quebec and some overseas jurisdictions have already announced plans to vaccinate people against the smallpox vaccine.
Quebec’s director of public health, Dr Luke Boylo, said on Thursday that the province would offer the vaccine – which has not been routinely offered in Canada for decades – to those at high risk of contracting the disease, such as those have been in contact with confirmed cases.
Officials in France and the United Kingdom have also signaled their intention to vaccinate people as the European Union works on a general agreement to buy monkeypox vaccines and antivirals.
Add Comment