The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday (1) called for the adoption of “urgent” measures to contain the spread of monkeypox in Europe, where cases have tripled in the past two weeks.
Hans Henri Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, warned in a statement that “urgent and coordinated action is imperative” in the coming months to prevent the disease from spreading to “wider geographic areas”.
According to the latest data from the UN agency, there are about 4,500 cases of monkeypox in Europe, three times higher than in mid-June.
This number corresponds to 90% of those registered worldwide since mid-May, when the disease, until then only considered endemic in about ten African countries, was reported in Europe.
So far, 31 European countries have reported cases.
Monkeypox, or simian orthopoxvirus, was identified in humans in 1970 and is considered less dangerous than smallpox in the same family, which was eradicated in 1980.
On Saturday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the monkeypox epidemic is a very worrying health threat, but does not currently represent a global public health emergency.
Symptoms of the disease are fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches and lack of energy.
Eruptions appear later on the face, palms and soles; lesions, pustules and finally crusts. The disease usually gets better in about three weeks.
source: Noticias
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