The World Health Organization -W.H.O had earlier reported on the 21 of May, that 92 laboratories have confirmed cases, and 28 suspected cases of monkeypox from 12 Member States that were classified as non-endemic for the virus, but in a recent briefing W.H.O mentioned that more than 1,000 monkeypox cases have been reported in the current outbreak outside countries in Africa.
At a media briefing in Geneva, where the Director-General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the disclosure, he added that there had been more than 1,400 suspected cases of monkeypox this year in Africa and 66 deaths.
He however said that “It’s an unfortunate reflection of the world we live in that the international community is only now paying attention to monkeypox because it has appeared in high-income countries,” Ghebreyesus said.
While making it known that the outbreak was showing signs of community transmission in some countries, the WHO Chief however recommends people with monkeypox to isolate at home.
He gave clarification that the zoonotic disease is endemic in humans in nine African countries but outbreaks have been reported in the past month in several other states — mostly in Europe, and notably in Britain, Spain and Portugal, noting also that “So far, no deaths have been reported in these countries.
Tedros Ghebreyesus during his briefing made it clear that although cases have been reported mainly, not only among men who have sex with men, the risk the virus poses to vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and children is also a source of concern.
The U.N. agency has indicated it is working with organizations including U.N. AIDS and community groups to raise awareness and stop the transmission.
Post-exposure vaccination, including for health workers or close contacts, including sexual partners — ideally within four days of exposure — may be considered for some countries, WHO added. The vaccines being used are designed against smallpox, a related, more dangerous virus that the world eradicated in 1980, but also work to protect against monkeypox, studies have shown.
WHO senior official Sylvie Briand said the agency is assessing the potency of vaccines stockpiled against smallpox and contacting manufacturers and countries who have previously pledged vaccines.
A global research consultation convened by the WHO R&D Blueprint gathered over 500 experts and more than 2000 participants to discuss knowledge gaps and research priorities for monkeypox, in view of the recent outbreaks of the disease in both endemic and non-endemic countries.
Researchers and high-level experts from all over the world met virtually for two days to review the available evidence on the epidemiology of the virus; its transmission dynamics; the clinical characteristics; One Health research; community engagement; and countermeasures for managing the disease, including clinical care, treatments, and vaccines. They agreed that effective countermeasures should be made available based on where the need was greatest.
