In view of the unusual spread of smallpox, the World Health Organization (WHO) is pushing for various measures but sees no cause for alarm. “This is not a disease that the public should be concerned about. It’s not about Covid,” WHO expert Sylvie Briand said at a briefing to WHO member countries today.
However, states must quickly register the sick and isolate those affected. The WHO assumes that most cases are mild. However, pregnant women, children and people with weak immune systems are at greater risk of a serious stroke.
“We have a good window of opportunity to stop broadcasting now,” Briand said. However, the size of smallpox vaccine stockpiles is unclear, which should also help against smallpox.
The WHO expects the number of cases to continue to rise. Monkeypox has appeared in over 20 countries. “We don’t know if we’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg,” Briand said. According to the current information, there is still no clear information about the cause of the current development.