Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 30. The World Health Organization said on the 29th that as of the 26th, 23 non-monkeypox-endemic countries had reported a total of 257 confirmed cases of monkeypox and 120 suspected cases. No deaths have been reported.
May 20, 2021World Health in Geneva, Switzerland Organization headquarters exterior. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Junxia
The organization issued a statement on the 29th saying that monkeypox poses a “moderate risk” to global public health. As well as expanded surveillance in non-endemic countries, more confirmed cases may emerge in the future.
Monkeypox poses a “high risk” to public health if it develops into a human pathogen in the future and spreads among groups such as young children and the immunocompromised, the statement said.
The sudden simultaneous outbreak of outbreaks in multiple non-monkeypox-endemic countries means undetected human-to-human transmission may have existed for some time, the WHO said. In addition, most cases had no travel links to disease-endemic areas and were detected through “primary care or sexual health services”.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that is mainly prevalent in western and central Africa, and is not prone to human-to-human transmission. Its incubation period is usually 6 to 13 days and may be as long as 21 days. The initial symptoms of infection include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, and swollen lymph nodes, which can later develop into a widespread rash on the face and body. Most infected people recover within a few weeks, and there have been cases of severe illness and even death.
CNN reported, citing WHO data, that in five African countries where monkeypox cases are usually reported, there have been 1,365 cases and 69 cases from mid-December last year to the end of May this year. death report. (Wang Yijun)