WHO: Monkey pox cases exceed 18,000 cases… All deaths in Africa

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

[WHO 제공]

(Geneva = Yonhap News) Correspondent Ahn Hee = The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on the 27th (local time) that the number of cases of monkey pox in 78 countries has exceeded 18,000, and the spread is continuing.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference held in Geneva on the same day, “More than 70% of the cases were reported in Europe, and 25% came from the Americas.”

He added that there have been five deaths from monkey pox, all reported from the African region, and that about 10% of cases are hospitalized for treatment.

Monkey smallpox, which was endemic to Africa, began to show cases outside of Africa in May.

The number of infected people, which was about 3,000 until last June, has increased six-fold now in about a month, and the number of infected people is increasing rapidly, mainly in Europe. It is often accompanied by symptoms such as blistering rash and acute fever, headache, and muscle pain.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on the 23rd for monkey pox in a preemptive response to the infectious disease.

The PHEIC is the highest public health alert that the WHO can issue, and it will strongly promote research and funding for disease control and international health action.

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