[ZH] More on the story from yesterdayHealth authorities in Europe, North America, and Australia have begun to investigate an outbreak of monkeypox, raising concerns that a broader outbreak of the viral infection could be underway in the West.
Monkeypox is a viral disease typically endemic to central and western Africa, but since the start of May, dozens of confirmed cases have been reported in several countries outside of the continent. Many more suspected cases are being investigated.
Europe should expect a wave of monkeypox cases in the coming months, according to Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization's top official on the continent.
"As we enter the summer season... with mass gatherings, festivals and parties, I am concerned that transmission [of monkeypox] could accelerate," Kluge said on Friday.
The number of the infected could rise because "the cases currently being detected are among those engaging in sexual activity," and many don't recognize the symptoms, he added.
The current spread of the virus in Western Europe is "atypical" as it was previously confined mostly to central and west Africa, the WHO regional director for Europe added.
"All but one of the recent cases have no relevant travel history to areas where monkeypox is endemic," Kluge said.
Kluge's concerns were shared by UK Health Security Agency's chief medical adviser, Susan Hopkins, who said she expected "this increase to continue in the coming days and for more cases to be identified in the wider community."
The CDC noted that in the case of the United Kingdom, there was a "temporally clustered group of cases involving four people who self-identify as gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men."
"Some evidence suggests that cases among [men who have sex with men] may be epidemiologically linked; the patients in this cluster were identified at sexual health clinics," it stated. "This is an evolving investigation and public health authorities hope to learn more about routes of exposure in the coming days."
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Monkeypox: 2022-05-21 African scientists baffled by unusual spread of monkeypox cases in Europe, US
Monkeypox: 2018-09-09 Monkeypox outbreak fears as 50 people contacted after first ever case of deadly tropical disease recorded in UK
Monkeypox: 2003-06-09 Alert Issued as U.S. Monkeypox Cases Grow to 37