The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Wednesday that the number of cases of the global monkeypox epidemic has passed 70,000, and warned that the drop in new cases does not mean people should let their guard down.
The WHO said last week that cases were rising in several countries in the Americas, stressing that the global slowdown in new cases could be the “most dangerous” time of the outbreak. .
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said more than 70,000 cases were reported to the United Nations health agency this year, with 26 deaths.
“Although cases continue to decline globally, 21 countries reported an increase in cases last week, mainly in the Americas, which accounted for almost 90% of all cases reported last week,” he said in Geneva. said at a press conference.
“A decline in the epidemic could be the most dangerous epidemic because it could be tempting to think the crisis is over and let your guard down,” he said.
He said the WHO is working with countries to increase testing capacity and monitor trends.
“We are concerned about reports of cases in Sudan, including in refugee camps near the border with Ethiopia,” Tedros added.
“Like COVID-19, monkeypox remains a public health emergency of international concern and WHO continues to treat it as such,” he said.
Outside of African countries where monkeypox epidemics have persisted for a long time, a sharp increase in monkeypox infections among men who have sex with men has been reported since early May.
More than 42,000 cases have now been reported from the Americas and nearly 25,000 from Europe.
107 WHO Member States have reported cases this year, but 39 Member States have registered no new cases in the past 21 days.
The 10 countries with the highest total number of cases are: United States (26,723). Brazil (8,147); Spain (7,209); France (4,043); United Kingdom (3,654); Germany (3,640); Peru (2,587);
These countries account for nearly 87% of the world’s cases.
Given the known data, 97% were male and the median age was 35 years. 90% were identified as men who had sex with men. According to the WHO case dashboard, 49% were HIV positive.
The disease causes fever, muscle pain, and large skin lesions such as boils.
