The entity warns that the risks could become high if the virus establishes itself as a human pathogen and reaches vulnerable groups
On Sunday (May 29, 2022), the World Health Organization said that monkeypox constitutes “Somewhat reasonable risk“For global public health. The virus has been circulating for more than 50 years on the African continent, but only in 2003 was it recognized in other regions. In just two weeks, the current crisis has already exceeded the worst episode recorded so far by ten times.
“Public health risks could become high if this virus takes advantage of the opportunity to establish itself as a human pathogen and spreads to the most vulnerable groups, such as young children and immunocompromised people.‘, warned the World Health Organization in report.
As of May 26, a total of 257 cases of the disease have been confirmed, and about 120 are under investigation. So far, no deaths have been reported.
The organization explained that the sudden appearance of monkeypox simultaneously in many non-endemic countries indicates that transmission of the infection has not been detected for some time. “Speaker recent eventsIt may also have happened.
“The situation is evolving rapidly and WHO expects more cases to be identified as surveillance expands in non-endemic countries, as well as in countries known to be endemic and have not reported cases recently.The World Health Organization added.
Today, the countries with the highest number of cases of the disease outside Africa are: the United Kingdom (106), Portugal (49), and Spain (20).
