According to an update released by the European Union’s disease agency the number of confirmed cases of Monkeypox worldwide has reached 219 outside of countries where it is endemic.
In an epidemiological note released last night, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said more than a dozen countries where Monkeypox is unusual, mostly in Europe, have reported at least one confirmed case.
The note said, “This is the first time that chains of transmission are reported in Europe without known epidemiological links to West or Central Africa, where this disease is endemic.”
It added that most of the cases were detected in young men, self-identifying as men who have sex with men.
The United Kingdom – where Monkeypox’s unusual appearance was first detected in early May, currently has the largest bulk of confirmed cases, 71. It is followed by Spain with 51 cases and Portugal, 37.
Outside of Europe, Canada has 15 and the United States has nine.
The total number of cases reported yesterday has increased fivefold since its first count on the 20th of May, when the EU agency said there were 38 cases.
Contagion risk is “very low”, the ECDC said earlier this week, but warned that people who have had multiple sexual partners, regardless of sexual orientation, are more at risk.
It said the clinical presentation is generally described to be mild adding that there have been no deaths.
Monkeypox a less severe disease compared to its cousin smallpox is endemic in 11 countries in West and Central Africa.
It spreads by a bite or direct contact with an infected animal’s blood, meat or bodily fluids, and initial symptoms include a high fever before quickly developing into a rash.
