WHO can’t rule out monkeypox pandemic risk, says there’s a window of opportunity to stop outbreak

The World Health Organization has said that there is a “window” of opportunity to contain a recent monkeypox outbreak which has seen cases spread across Europe, the U.S. and Australia.

The World Health Organization said Monday that it is too soon to tell if a recent monkeypox outbreak will lead to a global epidemic.

There are still many unknowns related to the spike in cases in non-endemic countries outside of Africa, according to the public health body. The risks to the general public are low, according to the WHO.

Sylvie Briand, the WHO's director of epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness, said they don't want people to panic or be afraid.

She said that the monkeypox disease is a different virus than Covid-19.

Monkeypox can cause flu-like symptoms such as rash, headaches, muscle ache, swelling and back pain, but it is a rare and mild viral infection. It can be transmitted through bodily fluids that have been in contact with a person or animal.

Health experts are puzzled by a recent surge in cases across Europe, North America and Australia, raising fears of community spread.

There were over 400 confirmed and suspected cases in 24 countries outside of Africa as of Sunday. There have been no deaths from the current outbreak.

The WHO's technical lead for monkeypox,Rosamund Lewis, said that they don't know if the recent outbreak could escalate into a pandemic.

Monkeypox has a genetic material that contains DNA. Health experts don't know a lot about its genetic makeup, but current data shows that it doesn't transmit or change as easily as other viruses.

Lewis said that they are not concerned about a global Pandemic at the moment.

She noted that rising individual cases were a cause for concern as it could allow the virus to spread more easily between people.

Collectively, the world has an opportunity to stop this outbreak. There is a window.

Lewis urged individuals and health professionals to be aware of the symptoms of the virus and to keep an eye out for them. She said that gay and bisexual men should be aware of the virus, which has shown a particular concentration among men who have sex with other men.

The world has an opportunity to stop this outbreak. Lewis said there is a window.

The WHO has outlined a number of ways that people can protect themselves against the virus, including practicing good hygiene and safe sex.

Once a suspected case has been identified, they should be isolated until they have healed and contact tracing should begin. Blood, cells, tissue, organs, breast milk and semen should not be donated by people who have been in contact with a patient who has the disease for 21 days, according to the WHO.

Any one case should be manageable through contact tracing and isolation.