Urgent need for measures against monkey pox – WHO says

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a number of steps to prevent monkey pox from spreading further.

“The identification of confirmed and suspected cases of monkey pox in multiple countries without any travel history to an endemic area is unusual; therefore, there is an urgent need to raise awareness about monkey pox and to conduct comprehensive case finding and isolation [with supportive care], contact tracing, and supportive care to limit further onward transmission,” the UN agency said in Geneva on Saturday.

According to the WHO, the cases recorded so far in Europe, North America, and Australia have mostly impacted males who have had intercourse with other men and have attended medical institutions.

However, given the current state of monitoring, instances are quite likely to occur in additional demographic groups and nations.

The WHO predicted 90 confirmed illnesses and 30 probable cases as of Saturday.

“Available information suggests that human-to-human transmission is occurring among people in close physical contact with cases who are symptomatic,” the agency said.
Monkey pox is an infectious disease that is usually mild, and is endemic in parts of west and central Africa. It is spread by close contact, so it can be relatively easily contained through such measures as self-isolation and hygiene.

“What seems to be happening now is that it has got into the population as a sexual form, as a genital form, and is being spread as sexually transmitted infections, which has amplified its transmission around the world,” WHO official David Heymann, an infectious disease specialist, told Reuters.

Heymann said an international committee of experts met via video conference to look at what needed to be studied about the outbreak and communicated to the public, including whether there is any asymptomatic spread, who are at most risk, and the various routes of transmission.

He said the meeting was convened “because of the urgency of the situation”. The committee is not the group that would suggest declaring a public health emergency of international concern, WHO’s highest form of alert, which applies to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Heymann said it was “biologically plausible” the virus had been circulating outside the countries where it is endemic, but had not led to major outbreaks as a result of Covid-19 lockdowns, social distancing and travel restrictions.

He stressed that the monkey pox outbreak did not resemble the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic because it does not transmit as easily. Those who suspect they may have been exposed or who show symptoms including bumpy rash and fever, should avoid close contact with others, he said.
“There are vaccines available, but the most important message is, you can protect yourself,” he added.

From the WHO’s point of view, travel restrictions or cancellations of events in affected countries are not necessary at present.

Although the organisation pointed out that infections can occur at mass events, it also emphasised that precautionary measures against Covid-19 are also effective against monkey pox.

UK warns of monkey pox transmission

Dr Susan Hopkins, a chief medical adviser for UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said the UK is detecting more cases everyday.

Speaking to BBC One’s “Morning Show,” Hopkins said there was “absolutely” community transmission in Britain.
“The community transmission is largely centred in urban areas and we are predominantly seeing it in individuals who self-identify as gay or bisexual, or other men who have sex with men.”
Asked why it is being found in that demographic, she said: “That’s because of the frequent close contacts they may have.

“We would recommend to anyone who’s having changes in sex partners regularly, or having close contact with individuals that they don’t know, to come forward if they develop a rash.”
Asked if people will need to get vaccinated for the infection, she said: “There is no direct vaccine for monkey pox but we are using a form of smallpox vaccine – a third-generation, smallpox vaccine that’s safe in individuals who are contacts of cases.

“So, we’re not using it in the general population.
“We’re using it in individuals who we believe are at high risk of developing symptoms and using it early, particularly within four or five days of the case developing symptoms.
“For contacts, [this] reduces your risk of developing disease, so that’s how we’re focusing our vaccination efforts at this point.”

It comes as US president Joe Biden said that recent cases of monkey pox which have been identified in Europe and the United States are something “to be concerned about.”
In his first public comments on the disease, Biden added: “It is a concern in that if it were to spread it would be consequential.” Via