Geneva –
The risk of developing monkeypox in non-endemic countries is real, the WHO warned on Wednesday, with more than 1,000 cases confirmed in those countries.
The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adanom Gebrejesus, said the UN Health Agency did not recommend mass vaccination against the virus, adding that no outbreaks had been reported.
“The risk of smallpox being found in non-endemic countries is real,” Tedros told a news conference.
Zoonotic disease is endemic to humans in nine African countries, but outbreaks have been reported in several other countries in the past month, mostly in Europe and especially in Britain, Spain and Portugal.
“More than 1,000 confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported to the WHO in 29 countries that are not endemic for the disease,” Tedros said.
“To date, no deaths have been reported in these countries. Cases have been reported mainly, but not only, among men who have sex with men.
“Some countries are already beginning to report cases of apparent transmission, including some cases of women.”
FILE – Health workers check passengers arriving from abroad for symptoms of monkeypox at Anna International Airport in Chennai, India, June 3, 2022.
Greece was the last country to confirm its first case of the disease on Wednesday, with health authorities saying it was a man who had recently traveled to Portugal and was hospitalized in stable condition.
Initial symptoms of smallpox include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and chickenpox-like rash.
Tedros said he was particularly concerned about the risk the virus poses to vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and children.
He said the sudden and unexpected outbreak of monkeypox outside endemic countries suggested that there may have been an undiscovered transmission for some time, but it is not known how long.
One case of monkeypox in a non-endemic country is considered an outbreak.
Tedros said that while this was “clearly worrying”, the virus has been circulating and killing in Africa for decades, with more than 1,400 suspected cases and 66 deaths so far this year.
“Communities that live with the threat of this virus every day deserve the same care, the same care and the same access to protection tools,” he said.
FILE – This print photo, provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was taken in 1997 during an investigation into an outbreak of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Vaccines
In the few places where vaccines are available, they are used to protect those who may be exposed, such as healthcare professionals.
Tedros said post-exposure vaccination, ideally within four days, could be considered for higher-risk close contacts, such as sexual partners or household members.
He added that the WHO will issue guidelines in the coming days on clinical care, infection prevention and control, vaccination and community protection.
He said people with symptoms should be isolated at home and consult a healthcare professional, while people in a household should avoid close contact.
Few hospitalizations were reported, except for isolated patients, the WHO said last weekend.
Sylvie Brind, director of preparation and prevention of the WHO epidemic and pandemic, said the smallpox vaccine could be used against monkeypox, another orthopoxvirus, with high efficacy.
The WHO is trying to determine how many doses are currently available and to find out from manufacturers what their production and distribution capacities are.
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