Monkeypox outbreak: 780 confirmed cases till June 2, says WHO

The World Health Organisation on Monday said that a total of 780 laboratory-confirmed cases of Monkeypox have been reported between May 13 and June 2. The cases have been reported across four WHO regions that are not endemic for the virus, PTI reported.

The UN health agency added that while epidemiological investigations are ongoing, most reported cases so far have been presented through sexual health or other health services in primary or secondary health care facilities and have involved mainly, but not exclusively, men who have sex with men.

Here are the top developments in connection with the Monkeypox virus.

1. The United Kingdom has reported 225 cases as of June 2, which includes 214 infections in England, eight in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland and one in Wales. The United States has confirmed 21 cases across ten states as of June 2.

2. Portugal confirmed five new infections on June 3, bringing the total count to 143. On the other hand, Spain confirmed 13 new cases on June 2 with the total reaching 156.

3. The WHO said many cases were not presenting with the classical clinical picture for Monkeypox: some have described having pustules appear before symptoms such as fever, and having lesions at different stages of development — both of which are atypical, AFP reported.

4. As of June 2, there have been no deaths associated with the current Monkeypox outbreak in non-endemic countries, however, cases and deaths continue to be reported from endemic countries, PTI quoted the WHO.

5. WHO said it continues to support sharing of information about this outbreak of Monkeypox. Clinical and public health incident response has been activated at WHO and in many Member States to coordinate comprehensive case findings, contact tracing, laboratory investigation, clinical management, isolation, and implementation of infection and prevention and control measures.