Tedros stated that he was particularly concerned about the virus's risk to vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and children.
Digital Desk: The risk of monkeypox becoming
established in non-endemic nations is real, the WHO warned Wednesday, with more
than 1,000 cases confirmed in such countries.
Chief of WHO, Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus said the U.N. health agency was not recommending mass vaccination
against the virus and he was told that no deaths had been reported from the
outbreaks till now.
"The risk of monkeypox becoming
established in non-endemic countries is real," Tedros expressed his
concern in a press conference held last week.
"More than 1,000 confirmed cases of monkeypox have now been reported to WHO from 29 countries that are not endemic to the disease," Tedros informed that so far, no deaths have been reported in the countries. "Some countries are now beginning to report cases of evident community transmission, including some cases in women", he added.
Tedros stated that he was particularly
concerned about the virus's risk to vulnerable groups, including pregnant women
and children.
He also added that monkeypox's sudden and unexpected appearance outside endemic countries suggested that there might have been undetected transmission for some time. Still, it was not known for how long.
Tedros feels the communities that live
with the threat of this virus every day deserve the same concern, care, and
access to tools to protect themselves.
In places where vaccines are
available, they are mainly being used to protect those who may be exposed, such
as healthcare workers and frontline workers.
Tedros stated that the WHO would issue guidance on clinical care, infection prevention and control, vaccination, and community protection in the coming days.
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