118 positive cases of monkeypox, a zoonotic disease, have been confirmed by tourists in European countries. The rapid spread of the virus was reported by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
According to the latest ECDC assessment, monkeypox is the most common infection in humans after smallpox. As of May 25, 2022, 219 confirmed cases had been reported worldwide, with the majority being detected in young homosexual men.
“In endemic areas, the monkeypox virus is likely to persist in the wild by circulating among several mammals with periodic spread. In endemic areas, it is transmitted to humans through bites or direct contact with the blood, meat, body fluids, or skin / mucous membrane lesions of an infected animal, ”said ECDC.
The number of positive cases varies from country to country, with the largest number of patients reported in Spain (51) and Portugal (37). In other countries, such as France, Germany, and Italy, five cases have been reported each, while six have been detected in the Netherlands. Belgium, the first country to introduce quarantine for tourists infected with the virus, reported four cases, while other countries, such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Slovenia, and Sweden, reported one case, respectively.
“Most current cases are accompanied by mild symptoms, and the probability of spreading to the general population is very low. However, the probability of further spread of the virus through close contact, for example, during sexual activity among people with multiple sexual partners, is considered high, “- warned ECDC Director Andrea Ammon.
The clinical picture is usually described as mild, with mostly genital or perinatal lesions, indicating that the transmission probably occurred during close physical contact during sexual intercourse. Possible causes of monkeypox maybe those that have tested positive for a laboratory test for orthopoxvirus infection, an epidemiological link to a confirmed or probable case in the last 21 days.
In addition, reports are being sent to countries endemic for monkeypox in the past three weeks: tourists with multiple or anonymous sexual partners in the past 21 days may be infected. Men who have sex with men are particularly at risk for monkeypox, the report said.
As for other countries, 101 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in non-European countries, most of which have been reported in the United Kingdom (71 people), Canada (15 people), and the United States (9 people). Argentina, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates have confirmed one case each, Switzerland and Australia two each, and Morocco three.
There is no import of monkeypox to Ukraine yet.