Around 14,000 cases of Monkeypox have been confirmed in more than 70 countries this year and a total of 5 deaths have been reported in Africa, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday. The Head of WHO assured that the organization would continue to do everything that could be done to support countries to stop transmission and save lives.
Nearly 14,000 #monkeypox cases have now been reported to whom this year, from more than 70 countries and regions. So far, 5 deaths have been reported, all in Africa. @Who will continue to do everything we can to support countries to support Countries to support countries to support the country to stop transmission and save lives, “Tedros said in a tweet.
Tedros also said that although there were several countries that registered the decline in cases, many witnessed an increase and around six countries reported their first monkey smallpox case last week.
Most cases continue to be reported from Europe, especially among men who have sex with men,” he said.
The Head of WHO added that the plague is more difficult to trace and stop because many countries report cases have less access to diagnostics and vaccines.
Ghebreyusus also said that this organization validates, procurement and shipping to many countries and will continue to provide support for expanded access to effective diagnostics.
Information is one of the most powerful tools against the plague, he added that more information will allow people who are at risk to protect themselves better.
Those who continue to work with patients and community advocates to develop and provide information that is adapted to the affected community, and is more likely to be accepted and implemented, “said Tedros.
The monkeypox virus is transmitted from animals infected to humans through indirect or direct contact. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with skin or contagious lesions, including face-to-face drops, skin to the skin, and breathing.
In current outbreak countries and reported monkeypox cases, transmission seems to occur mainly through close physical contact, including sexual contact. Transmission can also occur from contaminated materials such as linen, beds, electronics, clothing, which have infectious skin particles.
The early cases of Monkeypox, were detected in several countries in various WHO regions, did not have epidemiological relations with regions that historically reported monkeypox, showed that untected transmissions might have been going on for some time in these countries.
The majority of confirmed monkeypox cases are men and most of these cases occur among men, bisexuals, and other men who have sex with men in urban areas and are a huddy social and sexual network.
