The incidence of human cases of monkeypox in African countries is on the rise, with nearly 4,000 cases recorded over the past week, the Associated Press reported Tuesday, citing the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to Jean Kasey, director general of the agency, the total number of infected cases since the beginning of the outbreak has risen to 22,800. He noted that 81 people died of the disease in Africa over the past seven days.
On August 14, WHO declared a public health emergency over the spread of monkeypox in several countries around the world.
Monkeypox is a rare infectious disease most prevalent in remote areas of Central and West Africa. Its symptoms include nausea, fever, rash, itching, and muscle pain. With a mild course, the disease usually goes away on its own and lasts from 14 to 21 days.
Earlier, the Experts Club information and think tank released a video with a detailed explanation of the origin of the disease and the prospects for its spread – https://youtu.be/YXYU6KcQTcQ?si=wEj2TQc3MPHGx0QY
There are no registered cases of monkeypox in Ukraine, according to Deputy Health Minister and Chief Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Ihor Kuzin.
“No such cases have been registered in Ukraine. In fact, they are estimated to be quite low, given the lack of transport and air traffic,” he said during a telethon on Wednesday.
Kuzin clarified that there was an appropriate response to monkeypox and relevant WHO recommendations even before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“The emergency situation declared by the WHO at this time is related to the fact that a new subtype of the monkeypox virus has begun to circulate. This new subtype is now being detected in the vast majority of cases among those population groups that were not previously at risk,” he said.
The Deputy Minister noted that during the first wave of monkeypox, Ukraine received vaccines against the disease thanks to the EU.
Earlier, the Experts Club information and analytical center released a video with a detailed explanation of the origin of the disease and the prospects for its spread – https://youtu.be/YXYU6KcQTcQ?si=wEj2TQc3MPHGx0QY
The EU Health Safety Committee has concluded that there are no grounds to consider the situation in the European Union in connection with the cases of monkeypox an emergency, European Commission (EC) spokesperson Stefan de Kersmaeker said.
“Our approach is based on scientific evidence, and it served as the basis for our discussions at the committee meeting the day before. The European Commission and EU Member States met to discuss the situation and consider how to coordinate the next steps. The Health Safety Committee agreed that there is currently no emergency situation in Europe concerning monkeypox,” the spokesman said at a briefing in Brussels on Tuesday.
He referred to an analysis published on August 16 by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, according to which “the overall risk to the population remains low at present.”
The EC representative also said that the committee members agreed on the need for a coordinated approach to this problem and close monitoring of the situation.
Answering a question about the availability of monkeypox vaccines in the EU, de Kersmaeker noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of preparedness for health crises. He said that since 2022, several contracts have been signed with different companies, and these vaccines have already been distributed to Member States.
“Our latest joint framework contract provides for the purchase of up to 2 million doses of vaccines,” the EC representative added.
Monkeypox is a rare viral disease. The infection is accompanied by fever, intoxication, swollen lymph nodes and further spread of the rash – first in the form of spots that transform into bubbles, after opening them, ulcers form, after they heal, crusts form, and when they fall off, scars form. In mild cases, the disease usually resolves on its own and lasts from 14 to 21 days.
Last week, the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern due to the outbreak of monkeypox in Congo and other African countries. This year, more than 14 thousand cases of the disease have been detected in Congo, with 524 deaths recorded.
Earlier, the Experts Club information and analytical center released a video with a detailed explanation of the origin of the disease and the prospects for its spread – https://youtu.be/YXYU6KcQTcQ?si=wEj2TQc3MPHGx0QY
The first case of monkeypox has been registered in Ukraine, the Ministry of Health reports.
“Currently, the patient is hospitalized in a medical facility for inpatient treatment, he has a mild course of the disease,” the department said.
The Ministry of Health clarifies that the disease was diagnosed thanks to a PCR study conducted by the regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health. Now there is an epidemiological investigation of the specified case.
In order to preserve the comfort of the patient, the department does not specify exactly where the disease was diagnosed.
According to the patient, he had no contact with patients with monkeypox and did not travel abroad. However, the appearance of symptoms of the disease and the preliminary results of the epidemiological history indicate that the patient was infected in one of the major cities in the country.
Of the symptoms of the disease, he has a fever, a rash on his body.
The Ministry of Health clarifies that in Ukraine there is no need for vaccination against monkeypox yet, given the lack of registered cases and the reduced likelihood of their entry. In addition, the World Health Organization does not recommend mass vaccination.
Monkeypox is a smallpox-like disease caused by viruses of the poxvirus family. It is similar to smallpox, but has a lower mortality rate and milder symptoms.
By 2022, monkeypox was recorded in the countries of Central and West Africa, now more than half of all recorded cases occur in South and North America.
There are currently three monkeypox vaccines registered worldwide, but their production and stocks are limited. Some countries are already vaccinating risk groups given the spread of the disease. Previously, vaccination against monkeypox was carried out only in countries endemic for this infection, that is, countries in Africa.
Earlier, Ukrainian experts analyzed this disease and considered the risks of a pandemic to be extremely low. For more details, watch the program about this on the YouTube channel of the Club of Experts:
The total number of confirmed cases of monkeypox in more than 60 countries has exceeded 10 thousand cases, European media reported on Thursday, citing WHO.
It is noted that the largest number of cases of this disease occurs in Europe.
The WHO emergency committee is expected to meet next Thursday, July 21, to discuss measures to combat the spread of monkeypox.
In addition, the committee at the meeting is expected to decide on the classification of the outbreak, in particular whether the spread of monkeypox is a public health emergency.
The head of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has repeatedly expressed concern about the situation with the spread of monkeypox, called for “work to stop the transmission of the disease,” and recommended that governments of different countries carry out contact tracing of the sick.
Monkeypox is a rare infectious disease most prevalent in remote areas of Central and West Africa. Its symptoms are nausea, fever, rash, itching, and muscle pain. Earlier, the Club of Experts analyzed the situation, the experts gave their comments and forecasts regarding this disease. For more details, see the video material on YouTube channel Club of Experts:
The WHO considers urgent coordinated action necessary in connection with a sharp increase in the number of cases of human infection with monkeypox in Europe, reports the Associated Press.
“Urgent and coordinated action is needed if we are to get out of this situation safely,” said Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
He noted that monkeypox cases in the European region had tripled in the past two weeks.
Kluge added that 99% of the detected cases are men who have sex with other men. However, he said there are “small numbers” of cases among other people.
Monkeypox is a rare infectious disease most prevalent in remote areas of Central and West Africa. Its symptoms are nausea, fever, rash, itching, and muscle pain.
Earlier, Ukrainian experts analyzed this disease and considered the risks of a pandemic to be extremely low. For more details, watch the program about this on the YouTube channel Club of Experts
