Monkeypox cases in Africa not concentrated amongst gay men, says WHO

Monkeypox outbreaks in Africa usually are not concentrated amongst homosexual males, not like in different elements of the world, specialists from the World Well being Group (WHO) and the Africa CDC mentioned on Thursday.

Outbreaks of the viral illness have been reported from 78 international locations, principally in Europe, and 98% of instances outdoors the international locations in Africa the place it’s endemic have been reported in males who’ve intercourse with males, the WHO says.

However in Africa, the place repeated outbreaks have been documented for the reason that Seventies, the sample of transmission is completely different, the specialists mentioned.

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“At the moment 60% of the instances that we have now – the 350 – 60% are males, 40% are ladies,” mentioned epidemiologist Dr Otim Patrick Ramadan, who was answering questions on monkeypox at a media briefing organized by the WHO’s regional workplace in Africa, and who was referring to the continent’s variety of present instances.

He mentioned that greater than 80% of instances in Africa have been in international locations the place transmission had occurred earlier than, and that usually folks have been initially uncovered to the virus by way of contact with animals carrying it, earlier than passing it to family members.

He added that girls usually took care of sick folks at residence, which was one of many elements within the unfold amongst ladies.

Dr Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, performing director of the Africa Centres for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), advised a separate media briefing there was no proof that transmission amongst homosexual males was a selected consider African outbreaks.

“We have been amassing information on monkeypox since 1970 and that specific indicator, males having intercourse with males, has by no means come up as a big challenge right here in Africa,” he mentioned.

Greater than 18,000 instances of monkeypox have been reported worldwide in what the WHO has declared to be a world well being emergency.

Monkeypox spreads through shut contact and tends to trigger flu-like signs and pus-filled pores and skin lesions.

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Public well being businesses have confused that though in lots of international locations the outbreaks are concentrated amongst males who’ve intercourse with males, anybody can contract the virus by way of extended shut contact or from particles on objects corresponding to bedding or towels.