The World Health Organization has some cautious optimism for a planet still racked with COVID-19: the increasing number of monkeypox cases found in a number of countries is unlikely to become a pandemic of its own.
WHO’s Dr. Rosamund Lewis, the organization’s technical lead on monkeypox, said Monday that while the cases are spreading, the organization hasn’t narrowed down how it’s spreading or whether a lack of smallpox vaccinating over decades is speeding the spread.
Dr. Lewis said though, that the majority of monkeypox cases in dozens of countries have been found among men who have sex with men, which could help investigators’ focus. Many cases have been traced to raves in Spain and Belgium.
“It’s very important to describe this because it appears to be an increase in a mode of transmission that may have been under-recognized in the past,” Lewis said.
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“At the moment, we are not concerned about a global pandemic,” she said. “We are concerned that individuals may acquire this infection through high-risk exposure if they don’t have the information they need to protect themselves.”
Lewis added that more of the cases were presenting fewer lesions (a sign of serious illness) but remained infectious. Most monkeypox patients experience only fever, body aches, chills and fatigue.
It’s not yet known if the monkeypox is airborne as it usually is spreading through close physical contact.
No deaths in Europe or North America have been traced to the current outbreak.
With News Wire Services
