Monkeypox poses a moderate risk to public health

WHO’s comment was made after cases of infection monkey pox reported in countries where the disease was not previously endemic.

WHO confirms: “Public health risks may be higher if monkey smallpox virus become a human pathogen and spread to groups at greater risk of severe illness, such as young children and immunosuppressed individuals.”

As of May 26, a total of 257 confirmed cases of monkeypox and 120 suspected cases have been reported from 23 member countries that are not endemic for the virus, WHO said. in a statement. No deaths have been reported to date.

The WHO also said that the sudden emergence of monkeypox at the same time in several non-endemic countries suggests that transmission of the disease has gone undetected for some time, leading to an increase in strongly in recent times.

Cases of monkeypox have been reported in countries where the disease was not previously endemic. (Photo: Reuters)

WHO expects more cases to be reported as surveillance in endemic and non-endemic countries is expanded.

Monkeypox is an infectious disease, usually mild, and endemic in parts of West and Central Africa. The monkeypox virus is spread by close contact, so it can be contained relatively easily through measures such as self-isolation and hygiene.

Most of the cases reported to date have been detected in the UK, Spain and Portugal.

“The majority of cases reported to date did not travel to endemic areas and were detected by sexual health services,” said the United Nations’ global health agency. “.

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