- The Monkeypox outbreak in Europe continues to grow, with 25 countries reporting more than 1,500 cases or 85% of the cases, the regional head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday.){kind=link}
Brussels (The Times Groupe)- The Monkeypox outbreak in Europe continues to grow, with 25 countries reporting more than 1,500 cases or 85% of the cases, the regional head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday.
Hans Kluge, WHO’s Europe director, stated at a press conference that the disease poses a real risk and that action must be taken immediately.
WHO will convene an emergency committee next week.
In this meeting, it will be discussed whether the current spread of Monkeypox in non-endemic countries constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, like COVID19.
“The magnitude of this outbreak poses a real risk; the longer the virus circulates, the more it will extend its reach, and the stronger the disease’s foothold will get in non-endemic countries,” said Kluge.
“Governments, health partners, and civil society need to act with urgency and together to control this outbreak.”
There have been no Monkeypox-related deaths in non-endemic countries, he said.
Vaccines and antivirals for Monkeypox are limited, and little is known about their use.