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The World Health Organization has called for “urgent and coordinated” action to contain the increasing number of monkeypox cases in Europe.
Since early May, infections have increased in areas outside West and Central Africa, where the virus is endemic.
The Director of the World Health Organization in Europe, Hans Kluge, expressed his concern that cases had tripled in the past two weeks, with more than 4,500 infections recorded.
The World Health Organization recently said that monkeypox is not considered a global health emergency, but it is scheduled to hold a review of its position.
Monkeypox cases were reported from 31 countries. Most of the cases were recorded by men who had sex with other men, but some children also contracted it.
“Today I am intensifying my call on governments and civil society to step up efforts … to prevent monkeypox from establishing itself across a growing geographical area,” said WHO Regional Director for Europe.
“Urgent and coordinated action is imperative if we want to … reverse the continuing spread of this disease,” he added, according to AFP news agency.
He warned that Europe is still at the heart of the outbreak, and the risk remains high.
He stressed that 90 percent of laboratory-confirmed infections around the world were recorded in Europe.
Britain records the largest number of infections (1076), followed by Germany (838), Spain (736), Portugal (365) and France (350), according to information issued by the European Center for Disease Control.
The Danish laboratory “Bavarian Nordic” – the only laboratory to manufacture a licensed monkeypox vaccine – announced the dispatch of a new shipment of 2.5 million doses to the United States.
And US health authorities said, on Tuesday, that they will immediately send 56,000 doses of monkeypox vaccine – five times the number distributed so far – to areas where the disease is widespread, as part of a major push for the country’s immunization strategy.
On Tuesday, the European Medicines Agency announced the start of a review of the smallpox vaccine, to expand its use against monkeypox.
Monkeypox is linked to the smallpox disease that killed millions around the world annually, before it was eradicated in 1980, but its symptoms are much less severe.
The disease begins with a fever and quickly progresses to a rash. Symptoms are usually mild, and often disappear spontaneously after two to three weeks.