As of May 26, the latest update in terms of international counts, there were a total of 257 laboratory confirmed cases from monkeypox and of about 120 suspected cases. This the most updated bulletin released by the World Health Organization on 29 May. No deaths were reported but the organization puts the international health authorities on alert: «The situation is evolving rapidly. Since May 13, monkeypox has been reported by 23 member states that are not endemic to the virus“.
The problem, the report reads, is precisely this. That is, «the vast majority of cases reported so far it has no travel links with an endemic area and presented through primary care or sexual health services. The identification of confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox with no direct links to an endemic area is atypical. The early epidemiology of the initial cases reported to WHO by countries shows that they have been reported mainly among men who have sex with men. A case of monkeypox in a non-endemic country is considered an outbreak. The sudden simultaneous emergence of monkeypox in several non-endemic countries suggests that there may have been one transmission not detected for some time as well as recent amplification events ». In short, something has escaped us in recent weeks.
WHO expectsidentification of more cases in the next few days since the level of surveillance has become higher and is expanding to non-endemic countries and territories, where in short, that type of infection is not sought, as well as in countries where it is endemic but which have not reported recent cases. The overall risk to public health globally is assessed as moderate“Considering that this is the first time that monkeypox cases and clusters have been reported simultaneously in very different WHO geographic areas and with no known epidemiological links with non-endemic countries in West or Central Africa – adds the document – moreover, the sudden emergence and wide geographic reach of many sporadic cases indicate that a widespread one is already underway human-to-human transmission and that the virus may have been circulating unrecognized for several weeks or more. ‘
The virus is mainly transmitted from animal to human and the numerous infections between humans worry scientists. That would be the step that would bring the situation to the level of high risk, that is, if “this virus exploited the opportunity to establish itself as a human pathogen and spread to groups at higher risk of serious diseases such as young children and immunocompromised people; a large part of the population is vulnerable to the monkeypox virus, as vaccination against smallpox, which confers some cross-protection, has been discontinued since 1980 or earlier in some countries. ‘
Monkey pox: symptoms, transmission, treatment and mortality. Everything you need to know about the virus
Smallpox of the monkeys, Pregliasco: «It is important to talk about it, but without alarmism. Here’s what’s good to know about the virus “
Source: Vanity Fair
