“World Health”: Europe is the “center” of the spread of monkeypox

The European Office of the World Health Organization announced on Wednesday that Europe is the epicenter of monkeypox, expressing concern about the risks of endemicity of the disease there.

Hans Kluge, director of the World Health Organization Europe branch, which includes 53 countries, including countries from Central Asia, said in a press conference that “Europe remains the center of this wave, which is at the height of its breadth. Twenty-five countries have reported more than 1,500 cases, or 85% of the global total. ».

For the WHO, the priority is containing the spread.

"The scale of this epidemic poses a real danger: the longer the virus spreads for a long time, the wider its scope and the endemicity of the disease in non-endemic countries," Kluge added.

The virus, which usually spreads in Central and West Africa, is now present, outside Europe, in Australia, the Middle East, North America and South America, and the total number of infections is more than 1,600 cases.

Monkeypox, known to humans since 1970, is a rare disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals.

The disease initially causes a strong rise in temperature and quickly develops into a rash with the formation of scales.

It is often benign and generally heals after two or three weeks.

The spread of the virus, which is transmitted in particular through prolonged contact, should not lead to the cancellation of public events expected this summer.

Currently, the WHO does not recommend mass vaccination.

While European health authorities on Tuesday requested more than 100,000 doses of the smallpox vaccine approved in the United States for monkeypox, which is considered effective against this virus.

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