Expressing concern over rising cases of monkeypox--with over 780 monkeypox incidents being detected in 27 countries — the World Health Organization (WHO) has enlisted five actions that need to be taken on priority so that the spread of the virus can be stopped.
WHO official Maria Van Kerkhove on Sunday said, “We have to raise awareness of what monkeypox is, and what it isn't. And we have to increase surveillance. We need to raise awareness and testing regimen; stop human to human transmission; protect frontline workers; utilise countermeasures and accelerate research.”
We want to stop human-to-human transmission. We can do this in non-endemic countries. And this is very critical as we are in a situation where we can use public health tools for early identification; isolation of cases, supported isolation cases, talking with communities and listening to communities, and engaging with communities to be a part of the solution, she said.
This transmission has "likely been ongoing for several weeks, if not months," she added.
A zoonosis disease, which is transmitted from animals to humans, monkeypox is an orthopoxvirus that causes a disease with symptoms similar, but less severe, to smallpox.
According to the WHO, while smallpox was eradicated in 1980, monkeypox continues to occur in countries of Central and West Africa.
Maria Van Kerkhove also added, we also want to protect frontline workers. Anyone who is out there taking samples for testing or to take care of individuals want to ensure that they have the right information and that they have the right personal protection equipment and we want to utilize all the countermeasures that are in place.
As per the WHO, cases are often found “close to tropical rainforests where there are animals that carry the virus”. Evidence of monkeypox virus infection has been found in animals including squirrels, Gambian poached rats, dormice, different species of monkeys and others.