According to US information, hundreds of cases of the virus disease Monkeypox are now known in more than 20 countries. Canada is concerned.
The essentials in brief
- According to the US, more than 700 cases are known in 21 countries.
- All patients are recovering or have recovered.
- So far there have been no deaths.
The US health authority CDC announced on Friday that it was aware of more than 700 cases of monkeypox in 21 countries .
All patients recovered or have already recovered, and according to the information available, there have been no deaths.
In the current outbreaks, of the first 17 monkeypox infections outside of Africa, 16 were in men who say they have sex with men, according to the CDC report.
14 cases are said to be related to travel.
According to the CDC, 20 cases were registered in eleven states in the USA.
CDC representative Jennifer McQuiston said that at least one case was unrelated to a trip and that it was otherwise unclear how it was caused.
In Germany, 65 monkeypox cases from nine federal states were reported to the Robert Koch Institute by Friday.
Monkeypox less dangerous than smallpox
Monkeypox is a less dangerous cousin of smallpox, which was eradicated about 40 years ago.
The disease begins with a high fever and quickly progresses to a crusting rash. There are vaccines against the disease.
In Canada, 77 cases were counted as of Friday, most in the province of Quebec.
Howard Njoo from the national health authority called the situation “worrying” at a press conference.
It is to be feared that the virus will be transmitted within families to pregnant women and small children.
Njoo pointed out that monkeypox could affect anyone, “regardless of gender and sexual orientation”.
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