Close to 800 confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported in more than two dozen countries in regions that are not endemic for monkeypox virus.
“Since 13 May 2022, and as of 2 June 2022, 780 laboratory confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported to or identified by WHO from 27 Member States across four WHO regions that are not endemic for monkeypox virus,” the World Health Organisation said in a situation update published on Sunday.
“Most reported cases so far have been presented through sexual health or other health services in primary or secondary health care facilities and have involved mainly, but not exclusively, men who have sex with men (MSM).”
The WHO added that the West African strain of the virus had been identified from samples of cases so far. However, most confirmed cases with travel history reported travel to countries in Europe and North America, instead of West or Central Africa where the monkeypox virus is endemic.
The WHO said the global risk level was “moderate” as this was the first time many cases and clusters were reported simultaneously in non-endemic and endemic countries in widely disparate WHO geographical areas.
Monkeypox is a rare viral disease which is endemic to remote regions near tropical forests of Central and Western Africa.
According to the WHO, this virus is usually transmitted to humans by wild animals, like rodents and primates, while its secondary spread among humans is limited.
(Story compiled with assistance from wire reports)
