World / World Health Organisation WHO declared monkeypox outbreak is now a global emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday declared monkeypox, which has spread to more than 70 countries, as a global public health emergency. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that so far more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported. It is spreading both at the global and regional level. However, he also said that more risk assessments have been done in European regions. After the virus was confined to the African continent for decades, since May it has started spreading in countries where it was not known.

The WHO chief said that there is a risk of international spread, but the risk of traffic interference is currently low. He said that its transmission is happening through new methods, about which we have very little information. Keeping this in mind, the organization has decided to declare monkeypox as a public health emergency.

Preparations for use of smallpox vaccine against monkeypox

The European Medicines Agency (EMMA) said on Friday that the smallpox vaccine made by the Bavarian Nordic should also be authorized for use against monkeypox, as an outbreak of the rare disease is making people sick across the continent. The European Union's drug regulator said its recommendation is based on animal studies that suggest the vaccine protects non-human 'primates' from monkeypox.

35 year old man infected with monkeypox

Monkeypox has knocked in India too. Three cases of monkeypox have been reported in Kerala in the last two weeks. The third case has come to light only on Friday. Monkeypox infection has been confirmed in a 35-year-old man who returned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in early July. Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that the youth, a resident of Malappuram, had returned to his home state on July 6 and had fever since July 13. The youth is being treated at Manjeri Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.

All three cases of three are from Kerala itself.

Earlier, the second case of monkeypox in India was reported in Kannur district of Kerala. The infection was confirmed in a person who returned from Dubai to Kannur on July 13. He is being treated at Pariyaram Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. At the same time, the first patient of monkeypox in India was also found in Kerala. The person who arrived in Kollam from UAE on July 12 showed signs of infection. He is being treated at the Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram.