WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva on December 20, 2021 @BelgaImage
The World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend a “vaccination massive” against monkeypox. On Wednesday in Geneva, she called for more investment in understanding the spread of the virus by animals.
A “targeted” vaccination
“What we see is an epidemic“, told the press a specialist in these issues at the WHO, Rosamund Lewis. “An epidemic can be stopped“, she insisted, while the organization does not fear for the moment that the situation will deteriorate into a pandemic. According to this official, the WHO and the Member States are ready to vaccinate thanks to their reserves. But supply is limited and the organization is working with governments and the private sector to expand. vaccination must stay “targeted“on the contacts of infected people and on the health personnel who may have to take care of them.
According to the latest figures mentioned on Wednesday by the WHO, the number of confirmed cases has reached nearly 560 in around 30 countries. According to preliminary results, infections in Switzerland have been linked to those in several other countries. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for “notstigmatize“People who have been infected. Most cases have been identified in the homosexual community.”There may have been a spread that went undetected for some time“, says the managing director. According to Ms. Lewis, this period could even have reached up to several years. Investigations are continuing on this issue.
“Everyone can be infected“
On Tuesday, WHO Europe warned that the spread may not be fully controlled and warned of a rise in the number of cases in the region over the summer. “Anyone can be infected if they have been in close contact with someone who has been infected“, said for his part the director general. Monkey pox is an infectious disease transmitted to humans by animals.
The head of the emergency program at the WHO Michael Ryan is also asking Member States for more investment in understanding how these pathologies spread. These have been insufficient for ten years, he added. Each year, several thousand cases of monkeypox are observed in countries where it is endemic, causing several deaths. Even if the focus is on Europe, the situation in these states needs to be monitored just as much or even more, added WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove.
In total, incubation can usually range from 5 to 21 days and symptoms resemble, but less severe, those of smallpox during the first five days. In most infections, the situation resolves on its own. The WHO wants to provide guidance to the groups most at risk, prevent further spread, improve understanding of the pathology and protect health workers.