Statement from WHO about monkey pox: Cases triple in last two weeks

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that cases of monkey pox have increased dramatically and tripled in Europe over the past two weeks: “As of June 15, more than 4,500 cases have been detected in the WHO European region.”

Monkey pox, one of the rare diseases caused by an endemic virus, is divided into two types: Congo and West African. The virus, which is usually transmitted from animal to human and rarely from person to person by close contact, can lead to high fever and itchy blisters on the body.

According to the latest data of the US Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC), there are a total of 5,323 cases in 31 countries around the world.

On June 30, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced that the first case of monkey pox had been detected in Turkey.

CASES INCREASING RAPIDLY

In a press release, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Kluge evaluated the latest developments in the organization’s coverage of the spread of the monkey pox virus in the European region.

Noting that Europe remained the center of the monkey pox epidemic, Kluge drew attention last three weeks: He said, “As of June 15, over 4,500 cases have been detected in the WHO European region. The number of cases has tripled in the last two weeks.”