WHO Calls for Urgent Action in Europe as Monkeypox Rises Sharply

The World Health Organization on Friday called for “urgent action” against the monkeypox virus in Europe, as the number of cases has tripled in the past two weeks.

 

Regional Director Hans Kluge called on European countries to “increase their efforts in the coming weeks and months to prevent monkeypox from spreading over a wider geographic area”.

Europe now has more than 4,500 confirmed cases, accounting for 90 percent of the cases registered worldwide since mid-May.

Ninety-nine percent of the infections are diagnosed in men and most of them are between 21 and 40 years old, but cases have also been reported in women and children. Fortunately, no fatal cases have been reported so far, Kluge said.