Transmission of monkeypox “can be stopped in non-endemic countries,” a senior World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Monday. There are currently “less than 200 confirmed and suspected cases” in these countries.
“It is a situation that can be controlled, particularly in the countries where we see this epidemic occurring in Europe”, declared Maria Van Kerkhove, in charge of the fight against Covid-19 at the WHO but also diseases. emerging and zoonoses.
Monkey pox, a less dangerous cousin of smallpox eradicated for about 40 years, has made its sudden appearance in recent weeks in countries where it is normally only very rare: Europe and North America.
According to Dr. Van Kerkhove, there are currently “less than 200 confirmed and suspected cases” in these non-endemic countries.
Global meeting next week
Rosamund Lewis, who is in charge of smallpox at the WHO emergency programme, stressed that “this is the first time that we have seen cases in many countries at the same time and people (diseased) who are not ‘have not traveled to endemic areas of Africa’.
Ms Lewis said it was not yet known whether the virus had mutated, but stressed that these orthopox viruses “tend to be quite stable”.
A big global meeting with all experts from many branches is to be held next week to discuss this epidemic.
“Not a homosexual disease”
Andy Seale, strategy adviser for WHO’s global programs on HIV, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, stressed that while this virus can be caught during sexual activity, it is not a disease. sexually transmitted.
“Although we are seeing cases among men who have sex with men, it is not a gay disease, as some people on social media have tried to label it,” he insisted.
Low risk of contagion
On the other hand, the risk of contagion is higher among people with several sexual partners, while it is “very low” in the general population, estimated Monday the agency of the European Union in charge of diseases.
In addition to sexual relations, contact with mucous membranes or infected wounds, or even large droplets transmitted during prolonged face-to-face contact are considered possible vectors, according to the agency.
The ECDC recommends the isolation of all cases until the lesions caused by the disease “have completely healed”.
While most cases are mild, monkeypox can be severe in young children, pregnant women and immunocompromised people, the ECDC points out.
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