Europe 1 with AFP 4:51 p.m., May 23, 2022

While cases have surged in recent days in Europe and North America, the European Union's disease agency says there is little risk of monkeypox spreading.

Contagion still remains high among people with multiple sex partners, the agency said.

The risk of contagion of monkeypox is "very low" in the general population but "high" in people with multiple sexual partners, the European Union disease agency said on Monday.

“For the general population, the probability of contagion is very low,” says the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in its first risk assessment since the unusual appearance of dozens of cases in Europe and America. North.

"However, the likelihood of transmission of the virus in the event of close contact, for example during sex with people with multiple partners, is considered high," the agency said.

The situation "can be controlled", says the WHO

In addition, the transmission of monkeypox "can be stopped in non-endemic countries", said Monday a senior official of the World Health Organization (WHO).

“It is a situation that can be controlled, particularly in the countries where we see this epidemic occurring in Europe”, declared Maria Van Kerkhove, in charge of the fight against Covid-19 at the WHO but also diseases. emerging and zoonoses.

>> More information to follow...