Global cases of monkeypox now 257 –WHO 

The World Health Organisation says the number of confirmed monkeypox cases has reached 257, adding that there are also about 120 suspected cases from 23 non-endemic countries.

The WHO disclosed this in its latest update on the health condition.

The global health agency said it received reports of 1,365 cases and 69 deaths, from five African countries where the virus is mostly found.

WHO stated that its report covers the period between May 13 and May 26. 

It added that no deaths have been reported in non-endemic countries.

According to the WHO, “Since 2017, the few deaths of persons with monkeypox in West Africa have been associated with young age or an untreated HIV infection.”

The UN body said presently, the general public health risk is moderate, “considering this is the first time that monkeypox cases and clusters are reported concurrently in widely disparate WHO geographical areas and without known epidemiological links to non-endemic countries in West or Central Africa.”

WHO said, “The public health risk could become high if this virus exploits the opportunity to establish itself as a human pathogen and spreads to groups at higher risk of severe diseases such as young children and immunosuppressed persons.”

The global health agency is urging health care workers to pay close attention to possible symptoms such as rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache, back pain, muscle aches and fatigue, and also, to provide testing to any individual experiencing these symptoms.

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“Any patient with suspected monkeypox should be investigated and if confirmed, isolated until their lesions have crusted, the scab has fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed underneath. 

“Isolation can occur either in a health care facility or at home, provided the infected individual can be isolated and cared for appropriately.

“All efforts should be made to avoid unnecessary stigmatization of individuals and communities potentially affected by monkeypox,” WHO said.

The WHO also called on all member States, health authorities at all levels, clinicians, health and social sector partners, and academic, research, and commercial partners to respond rapidly in stopping the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox.

“Rapid action must be taken before the virus can be allowed to establish itself as a human pathogen with efficient person-to-person transmission in both endemic and non-endemic contexts.

“Lessons learned from the eradication of smallpox and from the management of other emerging zoonotic diseases must be urgently considered in the light of these rapidly evolving events,” it said.