According to the WHO, smallpox is usually a self-limiting disease and usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks.
Geneva:
Amid an increase in Monkeypox infections, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged affected countries to identify all cases and contacts to control the outbreak in an address on Wednesday.
“More than 1,000 cases of #monkeypox have been reported in 29 countries where the disease is not endemic, with no deaths so far in those countries. @ WHO urges affected countries to identify all cases and contacts to control the outbreak and prevent the spread “. Tedros tweeted.
Putting more emphasis on preventing the spread of the disease, he said no deaths have been reported so far, but the risk of smallpox being established in non-endemic countries is real.
Speaking about vaccines, Tedros said: “There are approved antivirals and vaccines for monkeypox, but these are limited,” he added, adding that the WHO is working to develop a coordination mechanism based on health needs. public and mass vaccination is needed as the disease has spread. in 29 countries.
“People with symptoms should stay home and those who share a home with infected people should avoid close contact,” he added.
He also highlighted how the virus has been living and killing in Africa for decades, but now the world has been paying attention when it began to affect high-income countries.
“Communities living with the threat of the virus on a daily basis deserve the same concern, the same care and the same tools to protect themselves,” the WHO chief said in a statement.
According to the WHO, smallpox is usually a self-limiting disease and usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks. It can be serious in children, pregnant women or people with immune suppression due to other conditions.
The incubation period is usually 6 to 13 days, but can be longer than 5 to 21 days.
Typical symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain and fatigue and swollen lymph nodes, followed by rash and / or injury.
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