The World Health Organization (WHO) says it does not believe the monkeypox outbreak outside Africa will lead to a pandemic. The assessment is by an authority who, on Monday (30), added that it is still unclear whether infected people who do not show symptoms can transmit the disease.
More than 300 suspected and confirmed cases of monkeypox, a generally mild disease that spreads by close contact causing flu-like symptoms and a distinct rash, were reported in May.
Most cases have occurred in Europe rather than in Central and West African countries where the virus is endemic. No deaths have been reported so far.
Epidemiological scenario
The WHO says that epidemiological investigations are ongoing and that most cases reported so far do not have established travel links to an endemic area. In addition, cases were identified through primary care health facilities or sexual health services.
The identification of confirmed and suspected cases of the disease without direct travel links to an endemic area is considered atypical by the WHO.
Preliminary epidemiology of early infections reported to WHO by countries shows that cases were reported primarily among men who have sex with men (technical classification that includes gay, bisexual and people who do not identify with any of these guidelines).
According to the WHO, a case of smallpox in a non-endemic country is considered an outbreak. The sudden appearance of monkeypox simultaneously in several non-endemic countries suggests that there may have been undetected transmission for some time, as well as recent amplifying events.
About monkey pox
The disease is caused by a virus that belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family. There are two groups of monkeypox virus: those from West Africa and those from the Congo Basin (Central Africa).
Monkeypox virus is transmitted from person to person 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.
Several animal species have been identified as susceptible to monkeypox virus, including squirrels, mice, voles, non-human primates and other species. According to the WHO, more studies are needed to identify the exact reservoirs and how the circulation of the virus is maintained in nature. Ingestion of undercooked meat and other animal products from infected animals is a possible risk factor.
Smallpox is usually self-limiting, but it can be serious in some individuals, such as children, pregnant women, or people who are immunosuppressed due to other health conditions.
Human infections with the West African type of virus appear to cause less severe illness compared to the Congo Basin viral group, with a fatality rate of 3.6% compared to 10.6% for the Congo Basin viral group. .
The clinical differential diagnosis includes other exanthematous diseases such as chickenpox, measles, bacterial skin infections, scabies, syphilis, and drug-associated allergies. Change in the size of lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) may be a clinical feature to distinguish the disease.
Monkeypox endemic countries are: Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana (identified only in animals), Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and Sudan South.
(Edited by Toby Chopra; with input from Lucas Rocha of CNN)
Source: CNN Brasil
