There have been more than 18,000 cases of Monkeopox worldwide from 78 countries, with most in Europe, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.WHO declared the outbreak of a global health emergency on Saturday.
Until now, 98 percent of cases outside the countries of Africa where the virus is endemic has been reported in men who have sex with men, who said.The CEO of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urged that group to consider reducing the number of sexual partners and changing contact data with any new couple.
“This is an outbreak that can be stopped … the best way to do it is to reduce the risk of exposure,” Tedros told a Geneva press conference. “That means making safe decisions for you and others.”Monkeopox is in the rename process, to prevent the name from being “armed” or racist, said Emergency Director Mike Ryan.
The UN Agency recommends vaccination for high -risk groups, including men who have sex with men with multiple sexual partners and health workers.He warned that it has been several weeks after the second dose of vaccine is completely protected, so people must take other precautions until that moment.
About 10 percent of patients have been hospitalized in the current outbreak and five have died, all in Africa, who said.Monkeopox has been a negligible public health problem worldwide in Africa for decades, but cases began to be informed outside countries where it is endemic in May.
It usually causes mild to moderate symptoms, which include fever, fatigue and painful skin lesions that are resolved in a few weeks.Tedros said there were around 16 million doses of approved vaccine available, but only in bulk, so he would take them for several months.WHO urges countries with reservations to share the vaccine, while the supply is limited, he added.