EUROPE HEALTH OFFICIAL WARNS MONKEYPOX CASES COULD ‘ACCELERATE’
PARIS—The World Health Organization (WHO) held an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the recent outbreak of monkeypox, a viral infection more common to west and central Africa, after over 100 cases were confirmed or suspected in Europe.
Also on Friday, a top European health official warned that cases of the disease could accelerate in the coming months, as the virus spread across Europe.
The WHO committee meeting to discuss the issue is the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Infectious Hazards with Pandemic and Epidemic Potential (STAG-IH), which advises on infection risks that could pose a global health threat.
It would not be responsible for deciding whether the outbreak should be declared a public health emergency of international concern, WHO’s highest form of alert, which is currently applied to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There appears to be a low risk to the general public at this time,” a senior US administration official said.
Meanwhile, WHO regional director for Europe Hans Kluge said that “as we enter the summer season ... with mass gatherings, festivals and parties, I am concerned that transmission could accelerate.”
The virus, which causes distinctive pustules but is rarely fatal, has previously been seen in central and west Africa.
But over recent weeks cases have been detected in European countries including Portugal and Sweden as well as the United States, Canada and Australia, Kluge said, calling the spread “atypical.”
“All but one of the recent cases have no relevant travel history to areas where monkeypox is endemic,” he added.
Sex link
The health official warned that transmission could be boosted by the fact that “the cases currently being detected are among those engaging in sexual activity,” and many do not recognize the symptoms.
Most initial cases of the disease have been among men who have sex with men and sought treatment at sexual health clinics, Kluge said, adding “this suggests that transmission may have been ongoing for some time.”
The WHO has said it is investigating the fact that many cases reported were people identifying as gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men.
The official’s statement came as France, Belgium and Germany reported their first cases of monkeypox, and Italy confirmed it now had three linked cases of the disease.
Belgium’s three confirmed cases of monkeypox were on Friday linked a large-scale fetish festival in the port city of Antwerp, organizers of the Darklands Festival said.
French authorities said the virus had infected a 29-year-old man living in the area that includes Paris.
In Spain, the health ministry has reported seven confirmed cases, and has said it is awaiting confirmation on 23 more.
But a regional health official said the authorities had recorded 21 confirmed cases in the Madrid region, most linked to a gay-friendly sauna in the heart of the capital.