WHO expects more cases of monkeypox to emerge globally (updated)

Genertec Universal Medical Co

21/05/2022 23:38

(New throughout, adds details from WHO statement)
    By Jennifer Rigby
    LONDON, May 21 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization
said it expects to identify more cases of monkeypox as it
expands surveillance in countries where the disease is not
typically found.
    As of Saturday, 92 confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases of
monkeypox have been reported from 12 member states that are not
endemic for the virus, the U.N. agency said, adding it will
provide further guidance and recommendations in coming days for
countries on how to mitigate the spread of monkeypox.
    "Available information suggests that human-to-human
transmission is occurring among people in close physical contact
with cases who are symptomatic", the agency added.
    Monkeypox is an infectious disease that is usually mild, and
is endemic in parts of west and central Africa. It is spread by
close contact, so it can be relatively easily contained through
such measures as self-isolation and hygiene. See EXPLAINER:
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2XC2EX
    "What seems to be happening now is that it has got into the
population as a sexual form, as a genital form, and is being
spread as are sexually transmitted infections, which has
amplified its transmission around the world," WHO official David
Heymann, an infectious disease specialist, told Reuters.
    Heymann said an international committee of experts met via
video conference to look at what needed to be studied about the
outbreak and communicated to the public, including whether there
is any asymptomatic spread, who are at most risk, and the
various routes of transmission. 
    He said the meeting was convened "because of the urgency of
the situation". The committee is not the group that would
suggest declaring a public health emergency of international
concern, WHO's highest form of alert, which applies to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
    He said close contact was the key transmission route, as
lesions typical of the disease are very infectious. For example,
parents caring for sick children are at risk, as are health
workers, which is why some countries have started inoculating
teams treating monkeypox patients using vaccines for smallpox, a
related virus.    
    Many of the current cases have been identified at sexual
health clinics. 
    Early genomic sequencing of a handful of the cases in Europe
has suggested a similarity with the strain https://virological.org/t/first-draft-genome-sequence-of-monkeypox-virus-associated-with-the-suspected-multi-country-outbreak-may-2022-confirmed-case-in-portugal/799
 that spread in a limited fashion in Britain, Israel and
Singapore in 2018. 
    Heymann said it was "biologically plausible" the virus had
been circulating outside of the countries where it is endemic,
but had not led to major outbreaks as a result of COVID-19
lockdowns, social distancing and travel restrictions.  
    He stressed that the monkeypox outbreak did not resemble the
early days of the COVID-19 pandemic because it does not transmit
as easily. Those who suspect they may have been exposed or who
show symptoms including bumpy rash and fever, should avoid close
contact with others, he said.  
    "There are vaccines available, but the most important
message is, you can protect yourself," he added. 

 (Reporting by Jennifer Rigby and Akanksha Khushi; Editing by
Pravin Char and David Gregorio)
 ((Jennifer.Rigby@thomsonreuters.com;))