Sat 01 May 2022:
As the virus spreads across Europe, a top European health expert has warned that cases of the rare monkeypox virus could increase in the coming months, The Guardian reporetd.
“As we enter the summer season… with mass gatherings, festivals, and parties, I am concerned that transmission could accelerate,” said Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe.
But over recent weeks cases have been detected in European countries including Portugal and Sweden as well as the United States, Canada and Australia, Kluge said, calling the spread “atypical”.
“All but one of the recent cases have no relevant travel history to areas where monkeypox is endemic,” he added.
The health official warned that transmission could be boosted by the fact that “the cases currently being detected are among those engaging in sexual activity”, and many do not recognise the symptoms.
Most initial cases of the disease have been among men who have sex with men and sought treatment at sexual health clinics, Kluge said, adding “this suggests that transmission may have been ongoing for some time”.
More than 80 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in at least 12 countries.
The World Health Organization has said another 50 suspected cases are being investigated – without naming any countries – and warned that more cases are likely to be reported.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:
TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent
FACEBOOK (CLICK HERE)
https://web.facebook.com/ipindependent
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
