Monkeypox: 21% drop in new infections last week, says WHO

But the World Health Organization warned of “extensive transmission” of the virus in the Americas.

“At the beginning of the epidemic, most of the cases reported were in Europe and a small part in the Americas. The situation is reversed, with less than 40% of cases reported in Europe and 60% in the Americas,” the director said. – World Health Organization Major General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference.

In Latin America, in particular, “inadequate public health measures and lack of access to vaccines are leading to an increase in the epidemic,” according to Ghebreyesus.

The World Health Organization and the Danish North Bavarian pharmaceutical company have entered into an agreement to facilitate the distribution of vaccines in the region. The smallpox vaccine, a disease that was eradicated in the 1980s, was used to prevent monkeypox infection.

The current outbreak of monkeypox began in May in countries and regions where the infection is not endemic, namely in the United States and Europe, and, according to the latest statistics of the World Health Organization, has caused 13 deaths and 44,464 infections in more than 90 countries.

After four consecutive weeks of increase, the number of reported cases decreased by 21% in the week of August 15 to August 21, compared to the previous week, when the total number of new infections reached 5,907, according to the weekly report of the World Health Organization. Most cases are reported by men.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that “there are indications that the epidemic has slowed in Europe, where a combination of effective public health measures, behavior change and vaccination have contributed to preventing transmission.”

On July 23, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of monkeypox an international public health emergency.

According to the latest data, Portugal is the sixth European country with the highest number of infections, 810. The first five cases were confirmed on May 3, and the vaccination of the first people who were in close contact with the infected began on July 16.

According to the Directorate General of Health, the most common symptoms of infection are fever, severe headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes with a gradual rash that affects the skin and mucous membranes.

A sick person is no longer contagious until after complete recovery and crusting of the skin lesions, a period that may eventually exceed four weeks.

The monkeypox virus is transmitted by close physical contact, that is, with infections or bodily fluids, or by contact with contaminated items, such as sheets, towels, or personal utensils.

Last week, the World Health Organization indicated that studies are underway to determine whether genetic mutations in the virus cause the rapid spread of infection.

The World Health Organization said that “there are some genetic differences between current epidemic viruses and older viruses” of the West African (IIb) strain, where monkeypox is endemic.