The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director-General has declared the current multicountry monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
The statement was made on July 23rd at the press conference following the IHR Emergency Committee on the current outbreak held on July 21st.
This rare designation means the WHO now views the outbreak as a significant enough threat to global health that a coordinated international response is needed to prevent the virus from spreading further.
According the WHO the outbreak has grown to more than 16 thousand reported cases from 75 countries and territories, and five deaths (in Africa) – representing a 77% increase in confirmed cases from late June through early July.
Europe is currently the global epicenter of the outbreak, reporting more than 80% of confirmed infections worldwide in 2022. The U.S. has reported more than 2,500 monkeypox cases so far across 44 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. There have been 18 cases reported from six Caribbean countries (including Puerto Rico). At this time the risk posed by monkeypox is considered to be moderate globally, but high in Europe. However, the WHO admonishes that there is clearly a risk that the virus will continue to spread around the world, though it is unlikely to disrupt global trade or travel right now.
The outbreak continues to primarily affect men who have sex with men, who have reported recent sex with one or multiple male partners. The incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) of monkeypox is usually from 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days. Key transmission routes include skin-to-skin, mouth-to mouth and mouth-to-skin contact during sexual activity. However, transmission can also occur through skin-to-skin contact not related to sexual practices; face-to-face contact via respiratory droplets and from contaminated surfaces or material. While close physical contact is a well-known risk factor for transmission, it is unclear at this time if monkeypox can be transmitted sexually through semen or vaginal fluids.
Symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion and a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus. The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. For some persons, the rash appears first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash. Health officials say that the latest outbreak has frequently brought genital rashes. While most cases are mild with patients recovering in three weeks, the virus can be fatal and is more of a risk to pregnant people or those with weakened immune systems. Monkeypox can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed.
Persons should seek medical care immediately if they develop new, unexplained skin rash (lesions on any part of the body), with or without fever and chills, and avoid contact with others.
If possible, call ahead before going to a healthcare facility. Tell your doctor if in the month before developing symptoms you:
? have had face-to-face exposure, direct physical contact with skin or skin lesions, including sexual contact; or contact with contaminated materials such as clothing, bedding or utensils to a probable or confirmed case of monkey pox in the 21 days before symptom onset
? have travelled to a monkeypox endemic country in the 21 days before symptom onset
? have had multiple or anonymous sexual partners in the 21 days before symptom onset
Furthermore, mass gatherings may lead to persons socially interacting with people previously unknown to them. During such gatherings, crowding, which typically involves high density and movement of attendees, represents a conducive environment for close, prolonged and frequent interactions between people. This can facilitate the spread of communicable diseases. Additionally, these new interactions could lead to sexual activity which can play a role in the spread of the monkeypox virus.
Given the upcoming carnival season, which will likely involve mass gatherings and festive activities, the general public is hereby advised to be especially mindful and exert additional care, both in light of the ongoing COVID-19 threat, as well as the current threat from monkeypox.
The Ministry of Health will continue to provide timely updates through our media partners and our official Facebook page.
– Press Release
