Laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox rose 77% weekly, to more than 6,000 worldwide, and two more deaths in parts of Africa where the virus has circulated for years, the World Health Organization reported. Health (WHO) on Thursday.
Most cases were reported in Europe and Africa. The UN health agency said the mysterious outbreak continues to primarily affect men who have had sex with men and that other population groups showed no signs of sustained transmission.
The WHO said that as of Monday it had counted 6,027 laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox in 59 countries, an increase of 2,614 cases since its last count for the week ending June 27. He added that three people have died so far in connection with the outbreak, all of them in Africa.
The agency detailed that nine other countries had reported cases, while 10 had not reported any new cases for more than three weeks, which is the maximum incubation period.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday he remained “concerned about the scale and spread of the virus,” noting that more than 80% of the cases emerged in Europe. He announced that he will convene the next meeting of a WHO expert panel monitoring the outbreak no later than the week of July 18.
Most monkeypox patients experience fever, body aches, chills, and fatigue. People with more severe illness may develop a rash and lesions on the face and hands that may spread to other parts of the body.
The disease is endemic in parts of Africa, where people have been infected through bites from rodents or small animals. The monkeypox virus does not usually spread easily between people.
Cases began to emerge in Europe and the United States in May. Many of the people who contracted the virus had traveled to another country.
With information from AP
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2024-06-17 13:18:30
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