New Delhi: At least 92 cases of monkeypox virus have been confirmed in 12 countries. World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that even if surveillance is expanded, the infection is likely to spread to more countries.
12 countries – US, Canada, Australia, UK, Spain, PortugalGermany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Sweden – are not endemic for the monkeypox virus, meaning the virus is not commonly found, unlike some countries. Central and West Africa.
While no one has died so far, there are about 28 probable cases in these countries. The Global Health Agency said investigations are ongoing to confirm them.
WHO said in a statement, “As of May 21, 92 laboratory confirmed cases, and 28 suspected cases of monkeypox with investigations, have been reported to WHO from 12 member states that are not endemic for monkeypox virus in three WHO regions.” Huh.” ,
“No related deaths have been reported to date. The situation is evolving and WHO expects more cases of monkeypox to be identified as surveillance in non-endemic countries,” the agency said.
The WHO said the identification of confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox without a direct travel link from an endemic area “represents a highly unusual event”.
Surveillance in non-endemic areas has been limited to date, but is now expanding, and WHO expects only a handful of cases to be reported in non-endemic areas”.
Available information suggests that human-to-human transmission is occurring in people who are in close physical contact with symptomatic cases.
But “cases have not been identified primarily among men who have sex with men (msm,
To contain the spread, it emphasized the need for “urgent action focused on informing those who may be most at risk of monkeypox infection” with accurate information.
The UN health body said the current available evidence suggests that those most at risk are those who have had close physical contact with someone with monkeypox while they are symptomatic.
This is in relation to the UK and Spain, which have seen cases involving gay and bisexual men, with health officials asking gay and bisexual men to be aware of any unusual rashes or sores and contact sexual health service without delay. urged to do.
WHO said it is also working to provide guidance to protect frontline health care providers and other health workers who may be at risk, such as cleaners.
Also, so far all the cases whose samples were confirmed PCR has been identified as having been infected with a West African strain.
Genome sequences from a swab sample from a confirmed case in Portugal indicate a close match of the monkeypox virus causing the current outbreak to cases exported from Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Israel and Singapore in 2018 and 2019.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (virus transmitted from animals to humans) with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in patients with smallpox, although it is less severe clinically.
12 countries – US, Canada, Australia, UK, Spain, PortugalGermany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Sweden – are not endemic for the monkeypox virus, meaning the virus is not commonly found, unlike some countries. Central and West Africa.
While no one has died so far, there are about 28 probable cases in these countries. The Global Health Agency said investigations are ongoing to confirm them.
WHO said in a statement, “As of May 21, 92 laboratory confirmed cases, and 28 suspected cases of monkeypox with investigations, have been reported to WHO from 12 member states that are not endemic for monkeypox virus in three WHO regions.” Huh.” ,
“No related deaths have been reported to date. The situation is evolving and WHO expects more cases of monkeypox to be identified as surveillance in non-endemic countries,” the agency said.
The WHO said the identification of confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox without a direct travel link from an endemic area “represents a highly unusual event”.
Surveillance in non-endemic areas has been limited to date, but is now expanding, and WHO expects only a handful of cases to be reported in non-endemic areas”.
Available information suggests that human-to-human transmission is occurring in people who are in close physical contact with symptomatic cases.
But “cases have not been identified primarily among men who have sex with men (msm,
To contain the spread, it emphasized the need for “urgent action focused on informing those who may be most at risk of monkeypox infection” with accurate information.
The UN health body said the current available evidence suggests that those most at risk are those who have had close physical contact with someone with monkeypox while they are symptomatic.
This is in relation to the UK and Spain, which have seen cases involving gay and bisexual men, with health officials asking gay and bisexual men to be aware of any unusual rashes or sores and contact sexual health service without delay. urged to do.
WHO said it is also working to provide guidance to protect frontline health care providers and other health workers who may be at risk, such as cleaners.
Also, so far all the cases whose samples were confirmed PCR has been identified as having been infected with a West African strain.
Genome sequences from a swab sample from a confirmed case in Portugal indicate a close match of the monkeypox virus causing the current outbreak to cases exported from Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Israel and Singapore in 2018 and 2019.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (virus transmitted from animals to humans) with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in patients with smallpox, although it is less severe clinically.