[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on the 1st (local time) that the number of monkeypox infections in Europe has tripled in two weeks. There are calls for urgent emergency measures to prevent the spread.
Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, stated on the same day, "Governments and civil society in each country must intensify efforts to prevent monkeypox from becoming an established infectious disease beyond the region."
Monkeypox is a viral disease known to be endemic in some Central and West African countries. Recently, numerous confirmed and suspected cases have been reported in the United States, Europe, and other regions. Ninety percent of confirmed monkeypox cases worldwide have been reported in Europe, with 4,500 cases across 31 countries. Kluge referred to Europe as the epicenter of the monkeypox outbreak and mentioned that the situation remains dangerous.
WHO currently does not consider monkeypox a public health emergency but plans to reassess the situation later. WHO also stated that the majority of monkeypox infection cases have been reported among men who have had sexual contact with other men.
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