WeeklySA_AdminATYPICAL: The health body says it is working closely with 11 countries responding to the virus…
By WSAM Reporter
The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners were working to understand the extent and cause of an outbreak of monkeypox, the health body said in a statement released from Switzerland today.
The organisation said the virus was endemic in some animal populations in a number of countries, leading to occasional outbreaks among local people and travellers. Recent outbreaks reported across 11 countries so far were atypical, as they were occurring in non-endemic countries. WHO continued to receive updates on the status of ongoing outbreaks in endemic countries. So far, there were about 80 confirmed cases so far, and 50 pending investigations while more cases were likely to be reported as surveillance expanded, according to the WHO.
“WHO is working with the affected countries and others to expand disease surveillance to find and support people who may be affected, and to provide guidance on how to manage the disease.
We continue to convene meetings of experts and technical advisory groups (such as the meeting today of the Strategic & Technical Advisory Group on Infectious Hazards with Pandemic and Epidemic Potential [STAG-IH]) to share information on the disease and response strategies,” said the statement.
Monkeypox spreads differently from COVID-19 and WHO has encouraged everyone to stay informed from reliable sources, such as national health authorities, on the extent of the outbreak in their community (if any), symptoms and prevention.
“As monkeypox spreads through close contact, the response should focus on the people affected and their close contacts. People who closely interact with someone who is infectious are at greater risk for infection: this includes health workers, household members and sexual partners,” the WHO said.
The health organisation warned against stigmatising groups of people because of a disease, adding this was “never acceptable”. It could be a barrier to ending an outbreak as it might prevent people from seeking care, and lead to undetected spread. “As the situation is evolving, WHO will continue to provide updates we learn more,” the statement added.
KEY FACTS ABOUT MONKEYPOX
Monkeypox is caused by monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.
• Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions.
• Monkeypox typically presents clinically with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications.
• Monkeypox is usually a self-limited disease with the symptoms lasting from two to four weeks. Severe cases can occur. In recent times, the case fatality ratio has been around 3-6%.
• Monkeypox is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, or with material contaminated with the virus.
• Monkeypox virus is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding.
• The clinical presentation of monkeypox resembles that of smallpox, a related orthopoxvirus infection which was declared eradicated worldwide in 1980. Monkeypox is less contagious than smallpox and causes less severe illness.
• Vaccines used during the smallpox eradication programme also provided protection against monkeypox. Newer vaccines have been developed of which one has been approved for prevention of monkeypox
• An antiviral agent developed for the treatment of smallpox has also been licensed for the treatment of monkeypox.
