The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that 23 member countries reported a cumulative total of 257 laboratory-confirmed cases and 120 suspected cases of Monkeypox to the organisation as of May 26, 2022.
An update by the organization’s Disease Outbreak News (DON) said no deaths have been reported.
According to it, since May 13, 2022, Monkeypox has been reported to WHO from 23 member states that are not endemic for the Monkeypox virus, across four WHO regions where epidemiological investigations are ongoing.
“The vast majority of reported cases so far have no established travel links to an endemic area and have presented through primary care or sexual health services. The identification of confirmed and suspected cases of Monkeypox with no direct travel links to an endemic area is atypical. Early epidemiology of initial cases notified to WHO by countries shows that cases have been mainly reported amongst men who have sex with men (MSM). One case of Monkeypox in a non-endemic country is considered an outbreak.
“The sudden appearance of Monkeypox simultaneously in several non-endemic countries suggests that there may have been undetected transmission for some time as well as recent amplifying events,” it said.
It further said that the current publication of Disease Outbreak News is an update to the previous one published on May 21. This edition provides information on recently published WHO guidance for the outbreak. The background information, such as the description of the epidemiology of the disease, remains mostly unchanged.
The report pointed out that the situation is evolving rapidly and WHO expects that there will be more cases identified as surveillance expands in non-endemic countries, as well as in countries known to be endemic who have not recently been reporting cases.
The WHO listed some of the immediate action’s countries should focus on including the availability of accurate information to those who may be most at risk of Monkeypox, stopping further spread among groups at risk and protecting frontline health workers.
