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According to WHO, once commonly used, smallpox vaccination is 85 percent effective against monkeypox infection. Meanwhile, the number of reported cases in countries outside Africa continues to rise.
It reported this in Geneva on Saturday, citing studies. Routine smallpox vaccination was halted after smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980.
Deaths from monkeypox can occur primarily in young children and people with compromised immune systems, such as those infected with HIV, WHO reported. No deaths have been reported outside Africa since the first cases began mid-May. According to studies, more than 90 percent of those infected recovered fully, whether or not they were vaccinated against smallpox.
Since May, the number of monkeypox cases reported in countries outside Africa has continued to rise. WHO reported 1,285 cases Saturday – but was referring to the June 8 count. Since then, dozens more cases have been reported in Germany alone and two in Austria. The Robert Koch Institute on Friday named 165 points from nine German states.
Affected are at least 28 countries outside Africa, according to WHO. From eight African countries, where the disease has been known for decades in some cases, a good 1,500 suspected cases have been reported since the beginning of the year. Seventy-two of those affected have died.
The WHO assumes that monkeypox may have been circulating undetected in countries outside Africa for weeks. However, it considers the risk of worldwide spread to be moderate.
- source: vienna.at/picture: pixabay.com
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