European health authorities say likelihood of monkeypox outbreak spreading in Europe is high

European health authorities have stated that the likelihood of the monkeypox outbreak spreading in Europe is high.

Following the World Health Organization’s declaration of a “global emergency,” the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has recommended that EU countries issue travel advisories for regions affected by the outbreak.

The detection of a more contagious variant of monkeypox in Sweden, which is believed to have spread from Africa, has raised concerns across Europe. The ECDC emphasized that rapid diagnosis and control of cases were crucial to preventing sustained transmission in Europe.

So far, the virus has caused over 500 deaths, primarily in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The ECDC highlighted a high risk of infection for those traveling to affected regions and a moderate risk for close contacts of potential or confirmed cases imported from abroad.

The monkeypox virus has two subtypes: Clade I, which is more deadly and endemic in Central Africa, and Clade II, which continues to circulate in European countries.