Since the first case of monkeypox was discovered on May 13, the new disease has been spreading rapidly in the West.

On May 21, 92 laboratory-confirmed and 28 suspected cases of this type of smallpox were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO), and investigations are ongoing in 12 WHO Member States not endemic for monkeypox virus and in 3 regions. However, no deaths from the disease have yet been reported.

WHO expects more monkeypox cases to be detected as surveillance is expanded in non-endemic countries. Measures so far have focused on informing those who may be at higher risk of infection. Evidence suggests that those at highest risk are those who had close physical contact with a monkeypox patient when the patient developed symptoms, as well as health-care workers and cleaners.

The identification of confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox today represents a highly unusual event. WHO expects more cases to be identified and reported in non-endemic areas.

The endemic countries for monkeypox are: Benin, Cameroon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana (where it has only been detected in animals), Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and South Sudan.

WHO has also issued a warning that it is highly likely that additional cases and further spread of monkeypox will occur in countries currently reporting cases and in other WHO Member States. However, any patient with suspected monkeypox should be examined and, if confirmed, isolated until scabs form on the affected areas of the body, which will then fall off to reveal a fresh layer of healthy skin.

Any countries are advised to be vigilant for signs associated with patients presenting with an atypical rash that is progressively atypical (spots, papules, vesicles, pustules, crusts at the same stage of development on all affected areas of the body), which may be associated with fever, enlarged lymph nodes, back pain and muscle aches.

At this point, experts do not believe that this new disease is comparable to a coronavirus pandemic, and therefore there is no panic in the market.