Cases of monkeypox have tripled in Europe in the past two weeks, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), as it urges countries in the region to do more to ensure that the previously rare disease does not spread. ‘arrequi on the continent.
Key points:
- African health authorities are calling on rich countries to share limited supplies of vaccines
- The WHO says supplies of the vaccine, manufactured by Bavarian Nordic, are extremely limited
- In the UK, the disease is spreading widely among gay men, British health authorities say
In Africa, health authorities said they were treating the expanding outbreak as an emergency and called on rich countries to share limited supplies of vaccines to avoid the equity problems observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
WHO’s head of Europe, Hans Kluge, said on Friday (local time) that efforts needed to be stepped up despite the UN health agency’s decision last week that the escalation of the outbreak did not yet justify that a global health emergency be declared.
“Urgent and coordinated action is essential if we want to turn a corner in the race to reverse the spread of this disease,” Dr. Kluge said.
To date, more than 5,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported in 51 countries around the world that do not normally report the disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr Kluge said the number of infections in Europe accounted for about 90 per cent of the world total, with 31 countries in the WHO European region having identified cases.
The fight for vaccines sees Africa back
Supplies of the Bavarian-made Nordic vaccine are “extremely limited.” (Reuters: Luke Barth)
Dr. Kluge also said the purchase of vaccines “must apply the principles of equity.”
The main vaccine used for smallpox was originally developed for smallpox and the European Medicines Agency said this week that it was starting to assess whether it should be authorized for smallpox.
The WHO has said vaccine supplies, manufactured by Bavarian Nordic, were extremely limited.
Countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany have already begun vaccinating people at high risk for monkeypox; Recently, the UK has expanded its immunization program to mostly gay and bisexual men who have multiple sexual partners and are believed to be the most vulnerable.
Until May, it had never been known that monkeypox caused large outbreaks beyond parts of Central and West Africa, where it had been infecting people for decades, was endemic in several countries and mainly caused limited outbreaks when it jumped. to people of infected wild animals.
To date, there have been some 1,800 suspected cases of monkeypox in Africa, including more than 70 deaths, but only 109 have been confirmed in the laboratory.
Lack of laboratory diagnosis and weak monitoring means that many cases are not detected.
“This particular outbreak for us means an emergency,” said Ahmed Ogwell, acting director of the African Centers for Disease Control.
The WHO says the smallpox of the monkey has spread to African countries where it had not been seen before, such as South Africa, Ghana and Morocco.
Vaccines have never been used to stop monkeypox outbreaks in Africa, and officials rely primarily on monitoring and isolating contacts.
The WHO noted that, similar to last year’s fight for COVID-19 vaccines, countries with supplies of monkeypox vaccine had not yet shared them with Africa.
“We have no donations that have been offered [poorer] countries, ”said Fiona Braka, who leads the WHO emergency response team in Africa.
“We know that those countries that have some populations, mainly reserve them for their own populations.”
The WHO says the distribution of vaccines should be treated equally. (Photo courtesy of CDC / Getty Images)
The disease is spreading among gay men in the UK
Dr Kluge said the data reported to the WHO showed that 99% of cases had been in men, mostly in men who have sex with men.
But he said there were now “a small number” of cases among home contacts, including children.
Dr Kluge said the problem of stigmatization in some countries could cause some people to worry about seeking healthcare and said the WHO was working with partners, including organizers of gay pride events.
In the UK, which has the largest outbreak of smallpox beyond Africa, officials noted the disease was spreading to “defined sexual networks of gays, bisexuals or men who have sex with men”.
British health authorities said there was no sign to suggest sustained transmission beyond these populations.
Prior to the gay pride events in the UK this weekend, London’s leading public health doctor asked people with smallpox symptoms, such as swollen glands or blisters, to stay home.
However, in Africa, the WHO says that according to detailed data from Ghana, cases of smallpox were distributed almost equally between men and women, and no spread has been detected among men who they have sex with men.
People with monkeypox often experience symptoms such as rash, fever, fatigue, muscle aches, vomiting, and chills. Most recover in a few weeks without the need for medical attention.