The World Health Organization (WHO) says the monkeypox outbreak outside Africa will not lead to a pandemic, and encourages people to not blame the LGBTQ+ community for its spread.
The World Health Organization says the monkeypox outbreak outside Africa will not lead to a pandemic, an official has said, adding it's still unclear if infected people who are not displaying symptoms can transmit the disease.Declaring a pandemic, like as was done for COVID-19 and Ebola, would help accelerate research and funding to contain the disease
The strain of virus implicated in the outbreak is understood to kill a small fraction of those infected, but no deaths have been reportedMore than 300 suspected and confirmed cases of monkeypox — a usually mild illness that spreads through close contact and can cause flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions —The WHO is considering whether the outbreak should be assessed as a "potential public health emergency of international concern" or PHEIC.
Such a declaration, as was done for COVID-19 and Ebola, would help accelerate research and funding to contain the disease. Asked whether this monkeypox outbreak had the potential to grow into a pandemic, the technical lead for monkeypox from the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, Rosamund Lewis, said: "We don't know, but we don't think so."Once monkeypox has been contracted, the duration of the rash emerging and scabs falling off is recognised as the infectious period, but there is limited information on whether there is any spread of the virus by people who are not symptomatic, she added.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Van Morrison takes legal action against Northern Ireland health department and minister over Covid articleThe musician’s action comes in response to a Rolling Stone article by minister Robin Swann defending his department’s response to the pandemic
Read more »
Pandemic was the ‘last straw’ for children’s mental health issues
Read more »
‘You don’t have a choice’: Victoria’s mental health regulator criticised over complaints handlingOlivia* complained to hospital and regulator about her treatment and feels disempowered by the process
Read more »
Police, health worker vaccine mandate challenges in court after false startsIf these cases are successful, an employment law expert says there could be ramifications for the public and private sectors.
Read more »
Monkeypox presents a 'moderate risk' to global public health, WHO saysMonkeypox is a moderate risk to global public health and its sudden appearance in several countries suggests it's spread undetected for some time, the WHO says.
Read more »
Rumours continue about Putin’s health – with little to back them upObservers point to indicators of ill health from video footage, but others advise against wishful thinking
Read more »