Monkeypox virus disease outbreak

Monkeypox, a rare viral infection, is appearing in small but increasing numbers in Europe. While the disease is rarely fatal to humans, it has prompted some ...

The number of monkeypox cases in Italy has risen to four. A pride festival in the Canary Islands has also been identified as a possible source of the outbreaks. The majority of the cases in Spain have been traced to an adult sauna party in Madrid that has been identified as a superspreader event. The UK, where the outbreak was first identified, currently has 57 confirmed cases of monkeypox so far. The health service has cautioned that the virus can also be transmitted by touching the products of an infected animal. Once the fever breaks, a rash often develops which can be itchy or painful and lesions can occur on the face or genitals.

What do we know about monkeypox? Monkeypox isn't new. It is a viral disease originating from animals such as rodents and primates, and is transmitted to people.

As on date, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported as many as 92 laboratory confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases in 12 countries including the US, the UK, Australia, and Sweden. Public health experts say detection of monkeypox cases presents a new challenge, particularly as the world is still battling covid-19. One is the West African type with case fatality ratio close to 1%. The other is the Congo Basin type, which exhibits greater human-to-human transmission and has a case fatality ratio as high as 10%. The immediate strategy is to rapidly identify cases, isolate, treat and trace contacts. Mint talks about the outbreak and its implications. Mint talks about the outbreak and its implications. It is a viral disease originating from animals such as rodents and primates, and is transmitted to people.

The World Health Organization does not believe the monkeypox outbreak outside of Africa requires mass vaccinations as measures like good hygiene and safe ...

"It's rather around what people do at the parties that matters. Many - but not all - of the people who have been diagnosed in the current monkeypox outbreak have been men who have sex with men. There is no evidence the virus has mutated, a senior executive at the U.N. agency said separately on Monday. read more The vaccines used to combat monkeypox can have some significant side-effects, he added. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

The World Health Organization said Tuesday that a recent outbreak of monkeypox cases in non-endemic countries is "containable" even as it continues to ...

It's not the same as saying we must not act swiftly. "That's not the same as saying public health people shouldn't be worried. The cases are reportedly located in 19 countries outside of Africa. At least 19 countries including the U.S., U.K. Canada, Australia, Italy, Spain and Portugal have so far reported cases. The WHO said it was currently unclear whether the spike in cases was the "tip of the iceberg" or whether a peak in transmission had already been reached. As of Tuesday, there were 131 confirmed cases and 106 suspected cases of the disease since the first was reported on May 7, according to the public health body.