London: Europe and North America have detected dozens of cases of monkeypox, a virus that passes from infected animals such as rodents to humans. The World Health Organization said it was coordinating with health officials over the new outbreaks.
Canada was the latest country to report it was investigating more than a dozen suspected cases of monkeypox after Spain and Portugal detected more than 40 possible and verified cases. Sweden and Italy also reported its first case of monkeypox today.
The United States reported its first monkeypox case yesterday. A man in the eastern state of Massachusetts tested positive for the virus after visiting Canada.
Britain has confirmed nine cases since May 6.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were no reported cases of monkeypox for 40 years before it re-emerged in Nigeria in 2017.
There’s currently no specific treatment for monkeypox. Patients will usually need to stay in a specialist hospital so the infection doesn’t spread and general symptoms can be treated.
The incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) of monkeypox is usually from 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days, according to the WHO.
