Making a note that monkeypox cases had tripled there over the past two weeks in Europe, WHO called for urgent action. “Today, I am intensifying my call for governments and civil society to scale up efforts… to prevent monkeypox from establishing itself across a growing geographical area, said WHO’s regional director for Europe – Hans Henri Kluge.
“Urgent and coordinated action is imperative if we are to turn a corner in the race to reverse the ongoing spread of this disease,” he added.
A surge in the number of monkeypox cases has been detected outside West and Central African countries. In these countries, monkeypox is endemic. Ninety percent of all laboratory-confirmed cases registered worldwide, a total of 4,500 infections have been found in Europe, Kluge said.
According to Kluge, Europe remains at the centre of the rising outbreak and the infection risk remains very high. Infections have been reported in thirty-one countries.
The Agence France-Presse, quoting the WHO said, most monkeypox infections so far have been observed in men who have sex with men, of young age, chiefly in urban areas.
It is investigating cases of possible sexual transmission but maintains the disease is primarily spread through close contact.
