The World Health Organization has activated its highest alert level for the monkeypox outbreak as cases surge worldwide.
So far this year there have been 16,000 cases in 75 WHO member states and five deaths in Africa.
The WHO is now calling for an urgent coordinated international response to prevent the virus from spreading further and potentially escalating into a pandemic.
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued the highest alert and said that the risk of monkeypox is ‘high’ in the European region. The risk is ‘moderate’ globally and in all regions.
Tedros has called for research into the use of vaccines, therapeutics and other tools to be accelerated as well as strengthened infection prevention and control in hospitals and clinics.
Tedros said: “Although I am declaring a public health emergency of international concern, for the moment this is an outbreak that is concentrated among men who have sex with men, especially those with multiple sexual partners.
“That means that this is an outbreak that can be stopped with the right strategies in the right groups.
“It’s therefore essential that all countries work closely with communities of men who have sex with men, to design and deliver effective information and services, and to adopt measures that protect the health, human rights and dignity of affected communities.
“Stigma and discrimination can be as dangerous as any virus.”
HSE advice on Monkeypox is available at: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/monkeypox/
