The United Kingdom Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) said this Wednesday (1) that monkeypox appears to be being transmitted in a community way in England, information that worries experts at the moment: during the next few days the festivities of the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, in which thousands of people are expected to flock to parades, concerts and other celebrations.
Community transmission of a disease occurs when cases occur without one of those involved in the transmission having confirmed travel abroad, and when it is difficult to trace the origin of an infection – indicating that the disease circulates among people in a certain area.
Monkeypox is generally mild, unlike human smallpox, which is more aggressive and has had the natural infection eradicated. It is endemic in the West and Central African regions and spreads through close contact with injuries, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding. The incubation period is usually 6 to 13 days, but can range from 5 to 21 days. Until early May, cases were concentrated in these areas and rarely appeared in other parts of the globe.
“The current outbreak is the first time the virus has been transmitted from person to person in England, where no travel links to an endemic country have been identified,” the agency said.
Of the cases reported in the UK so far, most are in London, with 132 confirmed. London is also the location where most of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee major events will take place, between the 2nd and 5th of June.
In celebration of the Queen’s 70th anniversary on the throne – a mark never achieved by any other British monarch – parades and a massive show will be held in front of Buckingham Palace. The “Party at the Palace” will feature artists such as Elton John and Diana Ross, and an estimated audience of 17,500 people.
In addition to public gatherings, Elizabeth’s subjects were also encouraged to hold celebrations of their own in their homes and communities, bringing family, friends and neighbors together for Jubilee celebrations.
Crowdings can be a risk factor for the spread of the disease in the country.
Despite concerns, the World Health Organization (WHO) assessed this Monday (30) that it does not believe that the monkeypox outbreak outside Africa could lead to a pandemic.
On Wednesday, the WHO said it had so far received reports of more than 550 confirmed cases of the viral disease from 30 countries outside Africa.
With information from Reuters.
Source: CNN Brasil
