The World Health Organization on Friday has confirmed that there are already 80 cases of monkeypox globally, with recent oubreaks recorded in 11 countries, and 50 pending investigations.
"Unusual Outbreaks"
In a statement released by the global health agency, they noted that these outbreaks are unusual since they are occuring in the countries where the virus is not endemic. They expect more cases to follow up in the coming days as their surveillance broadens.
WHO is currently working with these affected countries and others to broaden their surveillance to detect and support people infected with monkeypox. They are also offering guidance to countries on how to manage the disease.
On Wednesday, May 18, health officials in Massachusetts reported the first ever U.S. case of the monkeypox virus due to an unnamed man that had previously traveled to Canada, where the outbreak also occurred.
New York City is also currently investigating a possible monkeypox case, according to their health department on Thursday.
So far, the U.S has at least one case, while Canada has reported two monkeypox cases.
Several European nations have also confirmed dozens of cases, logging its largest outbreak of monkeypox ever on the continent, noted by the German military.
Particularly, eight countries in Europe - including France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK, have confirmed several monkeypox cases.
In the UK alone, 11 cases were reported on Friday, doubling its current number of cases at 20.
The WHO noted that most of the cases are mild, however, the disease can have severe effects on young children, pregnant women, and people who are immunocompromised.
European health officials have recently raised concerns on the possibility of monkeypox spreading through sexual intercourse as well.
Read also : Monkeypox Concerns Europe Health Officials; Experts Now Check if Human Intercourse Also Spreads the Virus
Where Did Monkeypox Originate From?
Monkeypox is commonly found in Central and West African rainforests where animals serve as the carriers of the virus, according to the WHO.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that this disease comes from a virus which is in the same family as smallpox but it is not as severe. But monkeypox can result in death in as many as 1 in 10 people who acquire the disease, according to observations in Africa.
It is also worth noting that the WHO and the CDC both confirmed that the smallpox vaccine is 85% effective at preventing monkeypox, drawn from observational studies in Africa as well.
Monkeypox is spread through close contact with people, animals or material infected with the virus. It enters the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract, the eyes, nose and mouth. Though human-to-human transmission is believed to occur through respiratory droplets as well, that method requires prolonged face-to-face contact because the droplets cannot travel more than a few feet, according to the CDC.
The disease is spread through close contact with people, animals, or any material infected with the virus. It can enter the body through broken skin, the eyes, nose and mouth, and the respiratory tract
Monkeypox usually occurs with symptoms just like the flu - such as fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, swollen lymph nodes, and exhaustion- according to the CDC. After one or three days of the fever, patients will have a rash beginning on the space until it spreads to other body parts. The disease could last for about two to four weeks.
In 2020, the U.S. reported a monkeypox outbreak, the first outside Africa. The outbreak was caused by human contact with infected prairie dogs, which eventually resulted in more than 70 cases.
Related Article : CDC Warns That Monkeypox is Spread Through Close Body Contact, Confirms First Case in the US
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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
