New Delhi | 24 July 2022
The World Health
Organization today called on countries in South-East Asia Region to strengthen
surveillance and public health measures for monkeypox, with the disease being
declared a public health emergency of international concern.
“Monkeypox has been spreading rapidly and to many countries that have not seen
it before, which is a matter of great concern. However, with cases concentrated
among men who have sex with men, it is possible to curtail further spread of
the disease with focused efforts among at-risk population,” said Dr Poonam
Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region.
Globally, over 16000 cases of monkeypox have been reported from 75 countries.
In the WHO South-East Asia Region, four cases of monkeypox have been reported,
three from India and one from Thailand. The cases in India are among nationals
who returned home from the Middle East, while in Thailand an international living
in the country has been confirmed positive for monkeypox.
The Regional Director said, “Importantly, our focused efforts and measures
should be sensitive, devoid of stigma or discrimination.”
The decision to term monkeypox as a public health emergency of international
concern (PHEIC) was announced by Dr Tedros, Director-General WHO, yesterday, a
day after he convened yet another meeting of the IHR emergency committee to
review the multi-country outbreak.
“Though the risk of monkeypox globally and in the Region is moderate, the
potential of its further international spread is real. Also, there are still
many unknowns about the virus. We need to stay alert and prepared to roll out
intense response to curtail further spread of monkeypox,” Dr Khetrapal Singh
said.
Since the start of the outbreak, WHO has been supporting countries assess risk,
and initiate public health measures, while also building and facilitating
testing capacities in the Region.
Engaging and protecting the affected communities; intensifying surveillance and
public health measures; strengthening clinical management and infection
prevention and control in hospitals and clinics; and accelerating research into
the use of vaccines, therapeutics and other tools, are among the key measures that
need to be scaled-up, the Regional Director said.
Monkeypox virus is transmitted from infected animals to humans via indirect or
direct contact. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact
with infectious skin or lesions, including face-to-face, skin-to-skin, and
respiratory droplets. In the current outbreak countries and amongst the
reported monkeypox cases, transmission appears to be occurring primarily
through close physical contact, including sexual contact. Transmission can also
occur from contaminated materials such as linens, bedding, electronics,
clothing, that have infectious skin particles.
For more information on monkeypox, https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/monkeypox-oubreak-2022