Monkeypox Cases Soaring High in Europe, 'It's a Community Spread', Says WHO
The WHO has chaired an emergency meeting with top health officials on Friday to talk about the raising concern of Monkeypox.
The recent outbreak of the Monkeypox virus is becoming a cause of concern in nine European nations including Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The cases have been registered in the United States, Canada, and Australia as well.
The WHO held an emergency meeting
On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted an emergency meeting with top health officials, after 100 cases of the viral infection have been reported in Europe.
The WHO regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge said, "As we enter the summer season... with mass gatherings, festivals, and parties. I am concerned that transmission could accelerate." Further, he added, "All but one of the recent cases have no relevant travel history to areas where monkeypox is endemic."
Read More: Covid Updates: India reports 2,323 Fresh Cases
24 fresh cases in Spain
On Friday, Spain reported 24 fresh cases of Monkeypox, pushing the total number of infections to 30. A Twitter post read, "The Paraiso sauna will remain closed for the next few days, a precautionary measure in the face of the alert... over the emergence of so-called monkeypox infections in the Madrid region."
Someone in close contact with an infectious person can get #monkeypox.
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 20, 2022
Stigmatizing people because of a disease is NEVER OK.
???? Stigma can be a barrier to ending an outbreak pic.twitter.com/AsnkmAtsx1
As per the WHO, "the transmission happens by droplet exposure via exhaled large droplets and by contact with infected skin lesions or contaminated materials. The incubation period of monkeypox is usually from 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days. The disease is often self-limiting with symptoms usually resolving spontaneously within 14 to 21 days."
A Community Spread
Fabian Leendertz, from the Robert Koch Institute, said, "However, it is very unlikely that this epidemic will last long. The cases can be well isolated via contact tracing and there are also drugs and effective vaccines that can be used if necessary."
No Vaccine available
As per the WHO, no vaccine has been developed yet but as per the data the vaccines that used to eradicate small pox are almost 85% effective against Monkeypox.
