PAHO confirms 10,000 monkeypox infections in the Americas

About 10,000 monkeypox infections have been reported in the Americas, accounting for 38 percent of all global cases, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

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The regional entity indicated that “cases of monkeypox continue to increase in several countries of the Americas,” while as of August 5, 2022, the WHO reported a total of 37,360 probable and laboratory-confirmed cases in 89 countries around the world.

PAHO highlighted through a statement that a resolution was approved during a special session of its Directing Council to support equitable access to the monkeypox vaccine on the continent.

“These recommendations, which PAHO is working with Member States to put into practice, include risk communication and the participation of affected communities, early detection and surveillance, treatment and isolation of patients, and follow-up. of the contacts”, underlined the note issued by the agency.

Likewise, the director of PAHO, Carissa F. Etienne, pointed out that currently there is only one third-generation vaccine against monkeypox in the world, and it is made by a single producer, however, she added that the entity has entered into the first negotiations with its producer.

PAHO has indicated that in relation to the recommendations of the PAHO Technical Advisory Group on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, as well as those of the Emergency Committee of the International Sanitary Regulations, convened by the WHO, it has been stipulated that countries “must prioritize vaccines for specific groups, as well as close contacts of a confirmed case, in order to maximize the impact of vaccines considering the limited supply.

On July 23, 2022, the WHO declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international importance and between January 1, 2022 and July 20, 2022, the organization had reported 14,533 cases of monkeypox in 72 countries, both probable and confirmed in laboratories.

The WHO pointed out that among the cases mentioned, five fatalities were in Nigeria and two in the Central African Republic. These figures, he warned, are higher than the 3,040 cases registered in 47 countries at the beginning of May 2022.