The World Health Organization warned on Friday that monkeypox cases are likely to rise around the world.
During a press conference, Sylvie Briand, WHO director for global infectious hazard preparedness, remarked, “We know that we will have more cases in the following days.” “We are still at the very, very beginning of this event,” she remarked.
As of Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) had reported over 200 cases of monkeypox in more than 20 nations where the disease isn’t often found. Several African countries are infected with the virus.
“Right now, we don’t know if we’re just witnessing the tip of the iceberg, or if there are many more cases in the community that have gone undiagnosed,” Briand added.
She stated that when countries enhance surveillance to detect the disease, more instances would be recorded, but WHO does not yet know the entire extent of the sickness.
Briand believes there is still time to stop the disease from spreading, but she warns that community spread has become a concern.
“We are concerned that the virus will spread throughout the community, but it is currently difficult to assess this risk,” she said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), monkeypox is “transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects such as bedding.” Rash, headache, fever, muscular and body aches, swollen lymph nodes, and back discomfort are some of the symptoms.
Monkeypox does not spread as quickly as COVID-19, thus the general public need not be concerned, according to Briand.
“I don’t believe this is an illness that the general people should be concerned about,” she added. “This isn’t like a COVID or other virus that spreads quickly.”
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eight states have reported a total of ten cases of monkeypox in the United States. Because not every case has a travel history, some of the illnesses are most likely disseminated through the community.
Monkeypox can affect anyone, according to the CDC, although gay and bisexual men account for a “significant fraction” of cases.