Monkeypox infects young and groups at higher risk

MONKEYPOX is starting to spill into high-risk groups including children, the World Health Organisation warns.

So far, the bulk of some 4,800 cases reported worldwide – including more than 1,000 in the UK – have been among men who have sex with men.

But at a press conference yesterday, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the UN health agency, said monkeypox is starting to spill into more vulnerable groups.

“I’m concerned about sustained transmission because it would suggest that the virus is establishing itself and it could move into high risk groups – including children, the immunocompromised and pregnant women,” Dr Tedros told a media briefing.

“We’re starting to see this with several children already infected now.”

The WHO is investigating reports of infections in children under 18 in Spain and France, while at least one case has been found in the UK since May.

But the warning, which comes amid mounting concerns that the virus is gaining a permanent foothold outside of endemic countries, follows a decision not to call the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) – the WHO’S highest alert.

On Saturday, a panel stopped short of declaring a global health emergency. Dr Tedros said on Wednesday that three of the 14 members felt a PHEIC should be announced, but the overall consensus was that the criteria had not been met.

However he stressed that he would “reconvene them quickly” if the situation further evolves.

The decision has sparked significant criticism. Prof Michael Worobey, head of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, told Science magazine that it does not reflect the threat posed by the virus.

“The window may already have closed on stopping the establishment of a new sexually transmitted disease worldwide, but a PHEIC has not even been declared,” he said.