The World Health Organization believes that the monkeypox virus that has caused an outbreak in several countries has not mutated recently. The number of infections is increasing moderately in 16 countries outside Africa. “World Health Organization experts currently have no evidence that the monkeypox virus has mutated,” said Rosamund Lewis, head of the organization’s monkeypox response unit. According to her, the frequency of mutations in the monkeypox virus is relatively low, but the World Health Organization is working to sequence the genome in hopes of understanding the causes of the current outbreak.
The WHO is asking dermatologists and venereologists in clinics around the world to be on the lookout for possible symptoms of monkeypox. According to WHO expert Maria van Kerkhove, who is the technical lead for WHO’s Covid-19 response, the current outbreak does not pose a serious threat, especially in Europe. “This is a controlled situation, but we cannot allow things to run rampant in Africa, in countries where this disease is endemic,” she said. The WHO also noted that a significant proportion of those infected are homosexuals and bisexuals.
The number of countries outside Africa that have reported cases of monkeypox rose to 16 on Monday, including Spain, Portugal, the United States and Australia. Scotland and Denmark joined the list. About 100 cases of infection have been recorded worldwide. On Monday, 36 new cases were reported in England. This brings the total number of infections in the UK to 57. About 10 workers at the Chelsea sexual health clinic have come into contact with a carrier of the virus and are now forced to isolate themselves. In Northern Ireland and Wales, no cases have been officially reported.
We explain quickly, simply, and clearly what happened, why it matters, and what happens next. The number of episodes should remain: episodes. The end of the story: Podcast Advertising Andrea Ammon, director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, urged national governments to ensure they have enough smallpox vaccine. It is effective against both smallpox and monkeypox. Harmon also called on countries to share methods of contact tracing and disease diagnosis. Infected people should be isolated immediately, Harmon added. “For the population as a whole, the risk of infection is very low. However, the likelihood of spreading the virus through close contact, such as sexual contact, especially among people with multiple partners, remains high,” she said. Monkeypox is not easily spread from person to person. According to the British Health Service, the disease is usually mild and most people recover within a few weeks. Although there is no vaccine specifically for monkeypox, several countries stockpile a vaccine for smallpox that is about 85% effective in preventing infection because the two viruses are similar.