On Thursday, the World Health Organization said that the monkeypox virus had spread to more than 20 countries. And urged countries to step up surveillance of the infectious disease as the outbreak escalates.
About 200 confirm cases also more than 100 suspect cases of monkeypox have been found outside the countries where they usually circulate. According to Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical director for Covid-19. He said that as surveillance expands, more cases of the rare viral disease are likely to be reported but add that the recent spread had been brought under control.
“We assume that other cases will be resolve.
Nevertheless, we’re asking states to step up surveillance,” Van Kerkhove said during a Q&A on the global health agency’s social media platform. “It’s a manageable situation. It will be difficult, but the situation is manageable in non-endemic countries,” he said.
Smallpox has spread to North America and Europe in recent weeks, sparking outbreaks in countries outside central and western Africa. The virus has been circulating at low levels for the past four decades. A milder West African virus strain caused the outbreak, and most patients recover within a few weeks. No deaths have been report so far.
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the European Union has confirmed 118 cases of monkeypox. Spain and Portugal reported the most significant outbreaks in the EU, with 51 also 37 points, respectively. ACCORDING TO THE UK’S HEALTH SAFETY AGENCY, the UK has confirmed 90 cases of the virus.
In North America, the United States has identified nine cases of monkeypox in seven states. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In addition, Canadian health officials have confirmed 16 cases of monkeypox, all found in the province of Quebec.
Director of CDC, dr. Rochelle Valensky said Thursday some patients in the United States had not traveled to countries with active outbreaks. Suggesting the virus is spreading across the country. Valenki said the CDC was tracing contacts and trying to break the chain of transmission in the United States.
Health officials in Europe, Britain, and the United States say most patients are gay or bisexual, with the virus being spread through sex in most cases. However, officials stress that monkeypox could be apply to anyone through close physical contact, regardless of sexual orientation. Van Kerch said it was essential to raise awareness about who was currently at high risk without stigmatizing anyone.