Geneva, May 22 (Agency) The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday said that 92 confirmed monkeypox cases and 28 suspected cases have been reported in 12 countries. The WHO said, “As of 21 May, 13:00, 92 laboratory confirmed cases, and 28 suspected cases of monkeypox with investigations ongoing, have been reported to WHO from 12 Member States that are not endemic for monkeypox virus, across three WHO regions. No associated deaths have been reported to date.” It further said that there will be more cases of monkeypox identified as surveillance expands in non-endemic countries. Citing current evidence, the health body suggested that those who are most at risk are those who have had close physical contact with someone with monkeypox, while they are symptomatic. It pointed out that the reported cases have so far established no travel links to an endemic area.
“Based on currently available information, cases have mainly but not exclusively been identified amongst men who have sex with men (MSM) seeking care in primary care and sexual health clinics. “To date, all cases whose samples were confirmed by PCR have been identified as being infected with the West African clade. Genome sequence from a swab sample from a confirmed case in Portugal, indicated a close match of the monkeypox virus causing the current outbreak, to exported cases from Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Israel and Singapore in 2018 and 2019,” the global health body added. According to Sputnik, Monkeypox is a rare viral disease, which is usually transmitted to people from wild animals but also can be transmitted from human to human through bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, and other contaminated materials. The disease fatality rate ranges from 1 per cent to 10 per cent.