WHO: Monkeypox Is Unlikely to Become a Pandemic

Qatar has recently reported its first Monkeypox case.

According to the Associated Press (AP), the World Health Organization (WHO) believes it is unlikely that monkeypox will become a pandemic.

"At the moment, we are not concerned about a worldwide pandemic," said Dr. Rosamund Lewis, WHO's leader of the smallpox team, emphasizing that several elements, such as how the illness spreads, remain unknown.

The WHO is also investigating the influence of the discontinuation of the smallpox vaccine decades ago on the spread of monkeypox.

“It’s very important to describe this because it appears to be an increase in a mode of transmission that may have been under-recognized in the past,” said Dr. Lewis.

According to the WHO, "cases have primarily, but not solely, been detected among males who have sex with men seeking care in primary care and sexual health clinics." Dr. Lewis warned that anybody, regardless of sexual orientation, might contract the illness.

Global Infections

The health official's comments come amid growing worldwide concern about the onset of another epidemic.

The Qatar Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said last week that no local instances of monkeypox had been recorded. It also stated that it is monitoring the global and regional epidemiological situation to ensure that possible infections are managed smoothly.

The local health ministry also implemented a number of public health initiatives to aid in the early discovery of the infection.

Meanwhile, the WHO claimed that more than 250 cases had been documented in 23 countries. Those same nations have never had monkeypox before. On Monday, the UK disclosed 71 new cases, and the UAE confirmed three new cases after reporting its first illness last week.

Monkeypox, according to Qatar's Ministry of Public Health, is a viral ailment that mostly occurs in tropical rainforest regions of Central and West Africa. The virus was identified in 1958, and the first human case was reported in 1970 in Africa.

Fever, a chickenpox-like rash, swelling lymph nodes, and other health problems are frequent signs of the virus. The symptoms of monkeypox are also milder than those of smallpox, despite the fact that both viruses are members of the same family.

Without the requirement for hospitalization, the recovery time might last two to four weeks. Despite this, the infection can be lethal on occasion.

The WHO is continuing to conduct epidemiological studies to have a better understanding of the condition.