Monkeypox cases in Europe triple in a fortnight

MONKEYPOX cases have tripled across Europe in the past two weeks, latest data has revealed.

Dr Hans Henri P Kluge, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) regional director for Europe, has intensified calls for governments to “scale up efforts” in the coming weeks and months to prevent the rare infection from establishing itself across a “growing geographical area”.

He stressed that “urgent and coordinated action” was needed for Europe to turn a corner in the race to reverse the ongoing spread of this disease.

Public Health Wales, in its latest update on June 27, confirmed there are nine cases of monkeypox in Wales which are being “managed appropriately”.

As of June 26, there were 1,076 laboratory-confirmed cases in the UK.

Monkeypox was added to the list of notifiable diseases by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) this week.

These are infectious diseases, such as measles, scarlet fever and whooping cough, which have to be reported to local authorities or local health protection teams.

Dr Kluge said: “The WHO European Region represents almost 90% of all laboratory-confirmed and globally reported cases since midMay, and since my last statement on June 15 six new countries and areas – taking the total to 31 – have reported monkeypox cases, with new cases tripling over the same period to over 4,500 laboratory confirmed cases across the region.

“There is simply no room for complacency – especially right here in the European region with its fastmoving outbreak that with every hour, day and week is extending its reach into previously unaffected areas.”

Most cases reported so far have been among people between 21 and 40 years old, and 99% have been men.

“The majority of those for whom we have information are men who have sex with men,” said Dr Kluge.

“However, small numbers of cases have also now been reported among household members, heterosexual contacts, and non-sexual contacts as well as among children.”