Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) explained that the smallpox outbreak in Europe and countries in other regions should not be considered an international health emergencyas is the case with covid-19.
This decision was taken by its CEO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesusfollowing the recommendation of a group of experts convened to deliberate on the severity of the outbreak.
“Its rapid and continued spread to new countries and regions is of particular concern, as is the risk of transmission to vulnerable groups such as immunosuppressed people, pregnant women and children,” he said, commenting on the experts’ findings.
Gordon Dougan, director of Infectious Diseases at Welcometells the Science Media Center (SCM) from the UK that “this outbreak is another reminder of our shared vulnerability to infectious diseases. Instead of putting out fires, we must work internationally to prevent future infections from escalating.”
Many cases, but few hospitalizations
Since the beginning of May, 3,040 confirmed cases have been reported of monkeypox in fifty countries, many of which have never reported cases of the disease. So far they’ve signed up few hospitalizations and a single death of a person with immunosuppression.
Likewise, the expert report indicates that the vast majority of unvaccinated patients should not be ignored,” the WHO warned.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a file image. / EFE | EPA | Fabrice Coffrini
However, Paul Hunter, a professor at the University of East Anglia (UEA), is skeptical of the decision: “The suggestion of stagnation or decline of the virus is too optimistic. In any epidemic, there is usually a first wave of people infected from specific sources and then the second. These waves can coalesce or give the false appearance that the epidemic may be stagnant or receding.”
Disease progression should be monitored
Likewise, experts recalled that the circulation of smallpox in Africa been neglected for many years and that it is time to turn to resolve this situation as well.
Scientists also indicated that disease progression should be monitored and that a further analysis of the situation will be required in the coming weeks once more information about the outbreaks becomes available.
For this, it will be carefully the rate of increase in cases in the next 21 days within the currently affected population and beyond, the number of cases among sex workers and a possible spread within countries with cases and in others where they have not been detected so far.
“Governments do not need to wait for an official declaration to act in a coordinated and measured way. Once cases are identified, rapid public health responses such as enhanced disease surveillance, contact tracing and self-isolation will be crucial,” says Dougan.
For his part, Hunter insists that declaring smallpox an emergency can have some advantages: like the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he concludes.