This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature oval-shaped monkeypox viruses, left, and immature spherical virions, right, obtained from a human skin sample associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak.
Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner | CDC via AP
The World Health Organization has confirmed about 80 cases of monkeypox with recent outbreaks in 11 countries, according to a statement from the World Health Agency on Friday.
According to the World Health Organization, outbreaks are unusual because they occur in countries where the virus is not endemic. The World Health Agency said more cases are likely to be reported in the coming days as surveillance expands.
“WHO is working with affected countries and others to expand disease surveillance to find and support people who may be affected, and to provide guidance on how to manage the disease,” the WHO said.
European countries have confirmed dozens of cases in the largest outbreak of monkeypox ever on the continent, according to the German military. The United States has confirmed at least one case, and Canada has confirmed two. Monkeypox virus is commonly found in central and western African countries where there are rainforests where animals live the virus, according to the World Health Organization.
Monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox but is not very serious, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, monkeypox can kill up to 1 in 10 people who contract the disease based on observations in Africa, according to the CDC.
Smallpox vaccine is 85% effective in preventing monkeypox based on observational studies in Africa, according to the World Health Organization and the CDC.
Monkeypox spreads through close contact with people, animals, or materials infected with the virus. It enters the body through broken skin, respiratory tract, eyes, nose, and mouth. Although human-to-human transmission is thought to occur through respiratory droplets as well, this requires prolonged, face-to-face contact because droplets cannot travel more than a few feet, according to the CDC.
Monkeypox usually begins with flu-like symptoms including fever, headache, muscle aches and chills, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes, according to the CDC. Within one to three days of the onset of the fever, patients develop a rash that begins on the face and spreads to other parts of the body. The disease usually lasts for 2 to 4 weeks.
“As monkeypox spreads through close contact, the response should focus on infected people and on their close contacts,” the WHO said. According to the World Health Organization, health care workers, family members, and sexual partners of people with the virus are more likely to contract the disease.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a case of monkeypox in Massachusetts on Wednesday. The person had recently traveled to Canada using private transportation. New York City is investigating a possible case of monkeypox, according to a Department of Health statement Thursday.
An outbreak of monkeypox in the United States in 2003, the first outside Africa, was caused by human contact with infected prairie dogs kept as pets. The 2003 outbreak resulted in more than 70 cases.