Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged affected countries to identify all cases and contacts to control the outbreak amid a surge in Monkeypox infections.
Taking to Twitter yesterday, Ghebreyesus said, “Over 1,000 Monkeypox cases have been reported from 29 countries where the disease is not endemic, with no deaths reported so far in these countries. WHO urges affected countries to identify all cases and contacts to control the outbreak and prevent onward spread.”
Emphasizing further on prevention of the onward spread of the disease, he said no deaths have been reported so far but the risk of monkeypox establishing in non-endemic countries is real.
Speaking about the vaccines, Tedros said, “There are antivirals and vaccines approved for monkeypox but these are in limited supply,” adding that WHO is working on developing a coordination mechanism based on public health needs and mass vaccination is necessary as the disease has spread to 29 countries.
He also highlighted how the virus has been living and killing in Africa for decades but the world has now paid attention when it has started affecting the high-income countries.
