“Consider limiting your partners and sexual interactions at this time,” Hans Kluge, head of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Europe, recommended this afternoon to people most at risk of contracting monkeypox, such as one of measures to contain the transmission of the virus.
The abstinence advice sexual It is aimed, above all, at men who have sex with men or those who have multiple sexual partners, given that the majority of smallpox infections are occurring among them. The manager has admitted that “it can be a harsh message, but being careful can protect you and your community.”
The WHO has also warned that vaccination is not going to be the “silver bullet” that stops this epidemic (unlike covid), although people with a higher risk of contagion or health complications are being vaccinated. And he has asked that the solutions come out of Europe, because that is where there are more cases: at least 12,000 in 37 countries.
This monkeypox epidemic outside the dozen African countries where it was endemic for a couple of decades, already has some 18,000 declared cases. Spain is one of the most affected countries, with 3,738 positives confirmed by the Ministry of Health today, although it falls short, because only the Community of Madrid has said it has about 230 more than those computed, 1,695. Vaccination began last week, especially in Madrid and Barcelona, places with the most cases.
There are at least 3,487 cases also in the US, where the epidemic has grown rapidly in recent weeks (there is more widespread vaccination), and at least 2,200 cases in Great Britain, 2,350 in Germany and 1,700 in France. There are infections in about 70 countries in the world.
After declaring monkeypox an international emergency, or pandemic, the highest level of health alert, on Saturday, the WHO wants countries to take the viral threat more seriously, to take more measures to contain its spread. The director for Europe has asked all countries, infected or not, to act to prevent or control the virus.
Some 18,000 declared cases
In the current pandemic, contagion is mainly due to close contact during sexual intercourse, but the WHO warns that there are also non-sexual infections between people who share a house, in not always clear cases of exposure to the virus. He has asked that children, pregnant women and immunosuppressed people be protected above all.
The WHO demands that both governments and health authorities, as well as the population, take action. He asks that diagnostic tests, vaccination be facilitated – although Spain, for example, has a very limited number of vaccines – and medical attention. And that the positives be well informed of the duration of the infection (21 days) and the need to isolate themselves during that period.
Similarly, the WHO calls for increased epidemiological surveillance capacity and contact tracing of positives, because many are not identified, which fuels the transmission of the virus.
Symptoms not always the same
It also warns doctors that cases do not always present the same symptoms. The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned that sometimes there is only the characteristic rash caused by the virus, but rather a pimple in the genital or perianal area; others there are pustules in the mouth; there may be rectal pain, there is not always fever or fatigue…
Kluge has urged European and Central Asian governments to collaborate with each other and not to hoard vaccines and antivirals, but to ensure that they reach “where they are most needed.” He has also called for more investment in Africa, where he believes monkeypox has not received the attention it required over the past decade.