LONDON: The World Health Organization says there have been nearly 200 cases of monkeypox in more than 20 countries not usually known for unusual disease outbreaks, but described the pandemic as “containable” and limited vaccines to equine Proposed to create a stockpile to be shared publicly. and medicines available around the world.
During a public briefing on Friday, the U.N. The health agency said there are still many unanswered questions about what caused the unprecedented outbreak of monkeypox outside Africa, but there is no evidence that a genetic change in the virus is responsible.
“The first sequencing of the virus shows that the strain is not isolated from strains found in endemic countries and (this outbreak) is probably more due to changes in human behaviour,” said Dr Sylvie Bryand, WHO’s epidemiological director. and epidemic diseases.
Earlier this week, a top WHO advisory said outbreaks in Europe, the US, Israel, Australia and beyond were linked to sex in two recent waves in Spain and Belgium. This marks a significant departure from the disease’s typical pattern of spread in central and western Africa, where people are primarily infected by animals such as wild rodents and primates, and outbreaks do not occur across borders.
Although the WHO said there have been around 200 monkeypox cases, this appears to be low.
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No vaccine has been developed specifically against monkeypox, but the WHO estimates that smallpox vaccines are about 85 percent effective.
On Friday, Spanish officials said the number of cases there had risen to 98, according to officials in the region of Madrid, including a woman whose infection is “directly related” to a chain of transmission, previously confined to men. Was.
UK officials added 16 more cases to their monkey count, bringing the UK total to 106. And Portugal said its caseload rose to 74 on Friday.
WHO’s Bryand said the current situation appears “containable” based on how past outbreaks of the disease have developed in Africa.
Still, she said that the WHO expects to see more cases reported in the future, noting that “we don’t know if we are just seeing the peak of the iceberg (or) if there are many more cases that are spreading in communities.” Not known,” she said. ,
As countries including Britain, Germany, Canada and the US begin to evaluate how the smallpox vaccine can be used to prevent outbreaks, the WHO said its expert group is assessing the evidence and will soon He will provide guidance.
Dr. Rosamund Lewis, the head of the WHO’s smallpox department, said that “there is no need for mass vaccination,” explaining that monkeypox is not easily spread and transmission usually requires skin-to-skin contact. .
No vaccine has been developed specifically against monkeypox, but the WHO estimates that smallpox vaccines are about 85 percent effective.
She said countries supplying the vaccine may consider those at high risk of disease, such as close contacts of patients or health workers, but that monkeypox is mostly treated by isolating contacts and continuing epidemiological investigations. can be controlled by placing
Given the limited global supply of smallpox vaccines, WHO’s head of emergencies Dr Mike Ryan said the agency would work with its member countries to develop a centrally controlled stockpile, as it addressed the outbreak of yellow fever. helped to distribute. meningitis, and cholera in countries that cannot afford them.
“We’re talking about making vaccines available for targeted vaccination campaigns for targeted therapeutics,” Ryan said.
“So the volume is not necessarily large, but every country may need access to small amounts of the vaccine.”
Most monkeypox patients only experience fever, body aches, chills, and fatigue.
People with more severe disease may have a rash and sores on the face and hands that can spread to other parts of the body.