Smallpox: ‘Moderate risk’ of worldwide spread, says WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) described the overall “moderate risk” for public health worldwide. smallpox of monkeysafter recording cases of infection in countries where the disease has not been detected until now.

“The risk to public health could be greater if this virus seizes the opportunity and establishes itself as a human pathogen, spreading to higher-risk groups to become seriously ill, such as young children and those who are immunosuppressed.”announced the WHO.

As of May 26, a total of 257 confirmed cases of infection and 120 suspected cases had been reported in 23 WHO member countries where the virus is not endemic, the WHO said in a statement. No deaths have been reported so far.

According to the WHO, the sudden onset of monkey pox in several countries in which it was not endemic, suggests that there was a transmission, which was not detected for a long time, but also recent events that strengthened the transmission.

The WHO added that it expects more incidents to be recorded as surveillance expands.

Smallpox is a contagious disease, which is usually mild and endemic to parts of West and Central Africa. The disease is transmitted after close contact, while it can be treated relatively easily, by implementing measures such as self-isolation and adherence to hygiene measures.

Most of the cases reported so far have been identified in the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal. “Most of the reported cases of infection so far are not well-established through travel to an endemic area and were detected through primary health care or sexual health-related services,” according to the WHO.