Worldwide: Amid the ongoing efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic, the world now faces a new challenge in the form of monkeypox virus. The virus is common in the remote parts of Central and Western Africa, but this is the first time it has been confirmed simultaneously across North America, Europe, Middle East and Australia.
Currently, the cases are confirmed in USA, Canada, UK, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Israel and Australia. The World Health Organization has informed that another 50 suspected cases are under investigation without revealing the names of the countries.
The UK’s National Health Service said, monkeypox infection is usually mild and most people recover within a few weeks.
Unlike Coronavirus and Omicron, this disease isn't easily transmitted between people, so the risk of getting infected is very low.
Right now there are no vaccines for monkeypox and is treated with smallpox jab, which offers around 85% protection, since both the viruses are quite similar.
In its statement, the WHO informed on Friday that the recent outbreaks “are atypical, as they are occurring in non-endemic countries,” and they are “working with the affected countries and others to expand disease surveillance to find and support people who may be affected.”
The reason behind this unusual outbreak is still unclear, but the possibility of a variant can't be overlooked, although there's no concrete evidence or conclusive data at the time of writing.
Hans Kluge, Europe’s regional director of WHO, warned that “as we enter the summer season... with mass gatherings, festivals and parties, I am concerned that the transmission could accelerate.”
He confirmed that all but one of the confirmed patients had no relevant travel history to areas where monkeypox was endemic.
UK reported it’s first case on 7th May, a person who returned from Nigeria. On Friday, UK’s Health Secretary Sajid Javid informed that there are now 20 confirmed cases.
Spanish newspaper El País reported that the health authorities have also purchased thousands of smallpox jabs.
Australia’s first case though was a man who had returned from UK, the Victorian Department of Health said. While Massachusetts health authorities confirmed that one of the patient in USA had travelled to Canada.
Source: BBC
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