According to EU health authorities, more than 200 smallpox cases have been confirmed outside Africa. A total of 19 countries where the disease does not normally occur have confirmed at least one case, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said late on Wednesday.
“Most cases are young men who identify as men who have sex with men. There have been no deaths,” added the Stockholm-based European agency.
Out of the 11 African countries where this rare disease is endemic, the majority of confirmed cases are currently concentrated in three countries: the United Kingdom (71 cases), Spain (51) and Portugal (37). A total of 191 cases were confirmed in Europe, plus 15 in Canada, nine in the United States, two in Australia, one in Israel and one in the United Arab Emirates. Suspected cases were not recorded in the balance sheet.
In Spain, 59 cases of disease confirmed by a PCR test have already been reported. Given the situation, the government will now obtain vaccines and medicines from the European Union (EU), announced the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias. A total of 171 suspected cases were reported across the country. There is no specific vaccine against monkeypox. However, according to current knowledge, normal smallpox vaccination has a preventive effect of up to 85%.
ECDC risk assessment
On Monday, in its first risk assessment, the ECDC rated the likelihood of infection in the general population as “very low” but as “high” in people with multiple sexual partners. The World Health Organization (WHO) showed optimism that it would be able to stop the spread of the disease.
Monkeypox is a less dangerous cousin of smallpox, which was eradicated about 40 years ago. The illness starts with a high fever and quickly progresses to a crusty rash.