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Monkeypox spreading in Europe, US, has African scientists baffled - Al Jazeera English
May 20, 2022 1 min, 15 secs
WHO’s European chief concerned that monkeypox could spread as people gather for parties and festivals over the summer.

As more cases of monkeypox are detected in Europe and North America, some scientists who have monitored numerous outbreaks in Africa say they are baffled by the unusual disease’s spread in developed countries.

Cases of the smallpox-related disease have not previously been seen among people with no links to Central and West Africa.

Tomori hoped the appearance of monkeypox cases across Europe and other countries would further scientific understanding of the disease.

The WHO’s European chief said he was concerned that monkeypox could spread as people gather for parties and festivals over the summer months.

“As we enter the summer season in the European region, with mass gatherings, festivals and parties, I am concerned that transmission could accelerate, as the cases currently being detected are among those engaging in sexual activity, and the symptoms are unfamiliar to many,” WHO regional director for Europe Hans Kluge said on Friday.

On Friday, the UK’s Health Security Agency reported 11 new monkeypox cases, saying that “a notable proportion” of the most recent infections in the UK and Europe have been in young men with no history of travel to Africa who were gay, bisexual, or had sex with men.

“Aside from people in West and Central Africa who may have some immunity to monkeypox from past exposure, not having any smallpox vaccination means nobody has any kind of immunity to monkeypox,” Happi said.

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