There is no evidence that the monkeypox virus has mutated

Rosamund Lewis, head of the smallpox secretariat of the WHO Emergencies Programme, added that mutations tend to occur at lower rates with this virus, and viral genome sequencing in Cases will help inform the current outbreak.

Health professionals are also watching for related mutations that could make the virus more transmissible or aggravated.

Ms. Maria van Kerkhove, technical expert in charge of COVID-19 At least 100 suspected or confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported by the WHO in recent outbreaks in Europe and North America.

She said: “This is a manageable situation, especially in Europe, but we can’t take our eyes off what’s happening in Africa, where the disease is endemic.”

According to the WHO, these monkeypox outbreaks are atypical, because they occur in countries where the virus does not circulate frequently. Scientists are trying to understand the origin of cases. WHO also requires dermatology clinics and centers health care Initially, the sexual health clinic, wary of the possibility of a case.

Many – but not all – of those diagnosed during the current monkeypox outbreak are men who have sex with men (MSM).

Officials said it was still too early to say why, but the group should seek medical advice or get tested for sexual health.

Monkeypox is not usually contagious between people, but it can be transmitted by close person-to-person contact, or by contact between healthy people and objects used by people with monkeypox. , such as clothing, bedding, or other supplies.

When asked if the initial findings might be discriminatory, Andy Seale, strategic advisor in the Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programs Division at WHO shared: “There are many ways we can work with the community, from our decades of experience in tackling HIV stigma and discrimination, to applying those lessons this time around.”

U.S. health officials said on May 23 one more case of monkeypox in Massachusetts and reported four other suspected cases – two in New York City and Florida, and two in Utah. All were men with a history of international travel consistent with documented exposure patterns.