'Unprecedented Spread' of Monkeypox... WHO Warns "Infections May Surge During Summer"

WHO "Guidelines and Recommendations on Monkeypox Spread Mitigation to Be Provided to Member States"

An electron microscope image released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a mature oval-shaped monkeypox virus (left) and a spherical immature virus (right) obtained from a human skin sample.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on the 21st (local time) that more cases of monkeypox infection are expected to be confirmed.

According to the British daily The Guardian, as of this date, WHO reported 92 confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases of monkeypox infection in 12 countries, including 20 cases in the United Kingdom, where monkeypox infections had not been previously reported, across Europe, the United States, and Australia.

WHO added that it plans to provide member states with guidelines and recommendations related to mitigating the spread of this disease within the next few days.

Monkeypox is not easily transmitted between people, so doctors are puzzled by the simultaneous emergence of infection cases in various locations.

The virus is known to be transmitted between people only through close physical contact.

When infected with the monkeypox virus, mild symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, and fatigue usually appear, but it can cause skin lesions that may lead to secondary infections.

British health experts have warned that monkeypox infection cases will continue to increase for the time being.

According to The Guardian, Professor Charlotte Hammer, an emerging disease expert at the University of Cambridge, said, "Health authorities are now aggressively searching for infection cases," adding, "More cases of monkeypox with mild symptoms that may have been previously overlooked or misdiagnosed will be identified."

Professor Hammer also noted, "Considering that the incubation period of monkeypox is 1 to 3 months, some of the newly infected individuals may have been exposed to the virus in the early stages of the outbreak."

Additionally, Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, warned, "As we enter the summer season with large gatherings, festivals, and parties, the spread of infection may accelerate."