However, he added that time was running out and everyone must work together to fight the disease.
On Saturday, the Director General of the WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the spread of the virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), which is the organization’s highest alert level.
“With this, we hope to enhance coordination, cooperation between countries and all stakeholders, and global solidarity,” Lewis said.
The WHO estimates the public health risk posed by Monkeypox in the European region as high, but moderate worldwide.
This year, there have been more than 16,000 confirmed cases of monkeypox in more than 75 countries. Lewis said the true number was likely higher.
He noted that several thousand cases were suspected in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but testing facilities were limited. “The global dashboard contained no suspected cases,” he said.
Until this year, the virus that causes monkeypox has rarely spread outside of Africa, where it is endemic, UN News reported. But reports of a handful of cases in Britain in early May suggested the outbreak had moved to Europe.
Lewis also noted that stigmatization and discrimination must be avoided because it would harm the response to the disease.
“Right now, the epidemic is still focused on groups of men who have sex with men in some countries, but that’s not the case everywhere,” he said. “It’s really important to also understand that stigma and discrimination can be very harmful and just as dangerous as any virus itself,” she said.
Monkeypox can cause a variety of signs and symptoms, including painful sores. Some people developed severe symptoms that required treatment at a health center. Pregnant women, children and immunocompromised people are at greater risk of serious illness or complications.
According to Dr Lewis, the WHO was working with member states and the European Union to release vaccines and with partners to define a global coordination mechanism. He emphasized that there is no need for mass vaccinations.
He emphasized that countries with production capacity for smallpox and monkeypox diagnostics, vaccines or therapy should increase production.
Source: ANI
Source: The Nordic Page
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