UN Geneva - Multimedia Newsroom : Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Monkeypox Update

STORYLINE

The monkeypox outbreak which was declared by the Director-General of the World Health’s Organization’s (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on 23 July as a Global Health Emergency, could be stopped with the right strategies in the right groups, according to WHO’s monkeypox expert.

“The determination of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) constitutes the highest level of global public health alert that the World Health Organization can offer and can determine and through this we hope to enhance the coordination, cooperation of countries and all stakeholders as well as global solidarity”, said Dr Rosamund Lewis, WHO Technical Lead on Monkeypox while speaking at today’s press briefing at the United Nations in Geneva.

More than 16,000 cases were reported globally this year in more than 75 countries. Some 81 children under the age of 17 were reported as having been infected globally thus far. However, the real number is estimated to be higher.

“WHO has assessed the risk in the European region as high and globally as moderate because other regions are not at the moment as severely affected”, said Dr. Lewis. “But the reason this alert was called is that we wish to ensure that we can stop the outbreak as soon as possible”.

Monkeypox could cause a range of signs and symptoms, including painful sores. Some people develop serious symptoms that require care in a health facility. Pregnant women, children, and immunocompromised person are at higher risk for severe disease.

The virus was first identified in monkeys. It is transmitted through close contact with an infected person. Until this year, the viral disease has rarely spread outside Africa where it is endemic. For the first time in May, cases were reported in the UK, Northern Ireland, Portugal and Spain. Preventing stigma ought to be avoided, as this would harm the response.

“Because at the moment the outbreak is still concentrated in groups with men who have sex with men in some countries, but that is not the case everywhere, it’s really important to appreciate also that stigma and discrimination can be very damaging and as dangerous as any virus itself,” emphasized Dr. Lewis.

The WHO is working with partners to determine a global coordination mechanism and to release and coordinate vaccines. According to WHO’s expert on monkeypox, historically smallpox/monkeypox vaccines had been very effective, but they were now more attenuated and could possible be less effective. Countries currently producing vaccines are Denmark, Japan, and the United States. Some 16,4 million vaccines were currently available in bulk but needed to be finished.

“We are working with member states as well and for example the European Union that is procuring on behalf of more member states”, said WHO’s Dr. Lewis. “At the moment, yes the United States of America has released a significant quantity of vaccines back to manufacture in order to support requests from other countries”.

The current recommendation for persons with monkeypox is to isolate and not travel until they recovered. Contact cases should be checking their temperature and monitoring possible other symptoms for the period of 9 to 21 days.

“At the moment mass vaccination is not required”, said Dr. Lewis. “It is recommended, WHO has recommended an interim guidance vaccination for those who have been exposed, the post-exposure prophylaxis, as well as for those who may be at risk, so preventive vaccination prior to exposure”. She recalled that “a really important point to keep in mind here is that when someone is vaccinated it takes several weeks for an immune response to be generated by the body”.

According to Dr. Lewis, “the majority of cases are – as we mentioned already – in young adults, young men. But that is actually quite a broad range and I think the medium age is 37. We have seen in our data some cases over the age of 50, but not many”.

Dr. Lewis reminded that countries and manufacturers should work with the WHO to ensure diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, and other necessary supplies are made available on public health needs and at reasonable cost to countries where they are most need to support the onward spread of monkeypox.

-ends-

Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Monkeypox Update - WHO

Similar Stories