Monkeypox is now a cross-border public health threat in Europe, the World Health Organization’s regional director has warned.
WHO called for actions for the “sustained elimination” of the virus from Europe, citing more than 23,000 cases of infection in its European region.
Regional director-general Dr Hans Henri Kluge made a joint statement with the EU’s commissioner for health and food safety Stella Kyriakides at WHO’S regional conference, held in Israel.
They warned: “We are witnessing the unprecedented spread of an orthopoxvirus responsible for monkeypox disease in our Region and around the globe.
“This zoonotic virus, which was previously linked to only limited-person-to-person spread in non-endemic countries, now represents a cross-border health threat in Europe and a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).”
They added: “We believe the way to prevent the disease from becoming endemic in our region is first through the outbreak control and then by working towards the sustained elimination of monkeypox from Europe, which means ensuring the absence of sustained person-to-person transmission.
“A continued response between institutions, governments, health agencies and affected populations continues to be essential for our collective response and to further improve the situation.”
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