Despite a decrease of 21 % in the world, the WHO noted an “intense transmission” of the epidemic on the American continent, while it slows down in Europe.
Le Monde with AFP
After four consecutive weeks of increase, the World Health Organization (WHO) has observed a reduction in the number of monkeys of the monkey reported in the world. It decreased by 21 % during the week of August 15 to 21, compared to the previous week, announced the United Nations Public Health Specialized Agency, Thursday, August 25.
WHO notes the start of slowing down the epidemic in Europe. “There are signs that indicate that the epidemic slows down in Europe, where a combination of effective public health measures, behavioral changes and vaccination helps prevent transmission,” said WHO Director, Tedros adhanom ghebreyesus.
However, the WHO is far from rejoicing the situation, because the American continent is experiencing an “intense transmission” of the epidemic. “At the start of the epidemic, most of the reported cases were in Europe, and a smaller game in America. This situation has now been reversed, with less than 40 % of the cases reported in Europe and 60 % in America” , said Mr. Tedros, at a press conference. “In Latin America in particular, insufficient awareness or insufficient public health measures, combined with lack of access to vaccines, stretch the epidemic,” he said.
first Cases in Iran and Indonesia
According to their weekly report, in the last seven days, two countries have also pointed out their first case: Iran and Indonesia. Previously limited to Central and West Africa, the variole of the monkey has spread since May in other parts of the world, especially in Europe and the United States. A total of 44,464 cases had been identified in the world, including thirteen deaths, on August 24, according to the latest online assessment of the WHO.
On July 24, the WHO sparked its highest level of alert, the “public health emergency of international scope”, to strengthen the fight against the disease.
The Danish Laboratory Bavarian Nordic, which produces the only vaccine authorized against the variole of the monkey, announced, on Wednesday, an agreement with WHO to facilitate its distribution in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. “We thank Bavarian Nordic for this agreement and we hope that he will help master the epidemic in the region,” said WHO Director on Thursday.
“WHO continues to encourage all countries to set up studies on the effectiveness of vaccines in order to guarantee data collection while improving access” to doses, he added. Marketed by Bavarian Nordic under the name of Jynneos in North America and Imvansne in Europe, it is a vaccine against human smallpox, a deadly disease eradicated in 1980, which is currently used against the variolate of the monkey.