Scientists who have tracked multiple Monkeypox outbreaks in Africa are perplexed by the disease’s recent expansion in Europe and North America. Previously, cases of the smallpox-related sickness were exclusively found in persons with ties to Central and West Africa.
However, in the last week, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the United States, Sweden, and Canada have all reported cases, largely in young males who had never visited Africa before.
According to the World Health Organization, there are around 80 confirmed cases and 50 additional suspected cases globally. On Friday, France, Germany, Belgium, and Australia reported their first cases.
This is not the type of expansion we’ve seen in West Africa, so there may be something new going on in the West,” he said.
Oyewale Tomori, a Nigerian virologist, stated “I’m taken aback by this. Every day, more nations are sick,” said Oyewale Tomori, a virologist who previously led the Nigerian Academy of Science and now serves on various WHO advisory committees.
“This is not the type of expansion we’ve seen in West Africa, so something new may be occurring in the West,” he added.
So far, no one has perished as a result of the epidemic. Monkeypox is characterized by fever, chills, rash, and lesions.
The illness is estimated to kill up to one in every ten persons, however smallpox immunizations provide protection and antiviral medications are being researched.
British health experts are investigating if the sickness is spread sexually. Health authorities have encouraged physicians and nurses to be on the lookout for suspected instances, although they say the danger to the general public is negligible. The European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention advised isolating all suspected patients and providing smallpox immunization to high-risk contacts.
According to the WHO, Nigeria has roughly 3,000 monkeypox cases each year. Outbreaks typically occur in rural regions when people come into touch with diseased rats and squirrels, according to Mr Tomori. He believes that many cases are likely to go unnoticed.
Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, director of the country’s Centre for Disease Control, stated that none of the British patients’ Nigerian contacts had exhibited symptoms, and that investigations are underway. Dr Hans Kluge, WHO’s Europe Director, termed the epidemic as “atypical,” claiming that the disease’s arrival in so many nations across the continent indicated that “transmission has been ongoing for some time.” He claims that the majority of European instances are minor.