Dr. Hans Kluge, European Director of the World Health Organization, announced that Europe remains the epicenter of the monkeypox virus that has been spreading around the world since last month.
Speaking at a press conference, Kluge assessed the latest situation in the monkeypox outbreak in Europe.
Kluge noted that the virus has spread in 25 countries across the continent and that 85 percent of the more than 1600 cases confirmed so far are in Europe, and that this continent continues to be the epicenter of the virus.
Underlining that the spread of the virus has now started to carry risks, Kluge shared the information that the WHO Emergency Committee will meet on June 23rd to discuss this issue.
“The longer the virus circulates, the greater the risk it poses and the stronger its foothold in non-endemic countries,” Kluge said.
Calling on WHO member states to take urgent measures to control the monkeypox outbreak, Kluge said: “Monkeypox has been endemic in West and Central Africa for years and the world has ignored this virus. The fact that it is now spreading in Europe and other continents shows how quickly regional problems can spread across the globe.”
In a statement made by WHO yesterday, it was announced that a total of over 1600 cases were confirmed in 39 countries where monkeypox is not endemic.
Translated with DeepL https://www.deepl.com/app/?utm_medium=android-share
WHO Europe at epicenter of monkeypox outbreak
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