An overall 15,624 cases of monkeypox virus has been recorded so far in European nations, while two patients have died, as per a joint report by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The reports have revealed that around 482 people have been tested positive for the virus.
Among other nations, the worst-affected nations are Spain (4,577 infections), the United Kingdom and Germany (both 2,724 cases). Nearly all reported cases – 15,524 out of 15,624 – have been confirmed by laboratory testing.
Around 41% of patients are among the age group of 31 and 40. Nearly all (99.1%) are men. Almost all patients (95%) had a skin rash, while 65% had to deal with symptoms such as fever, fatigue, muscle aches, chills or headache. Only a small percentage of patients – 399 cases or 5.6% – have been hospitalized, including three who were admitted to an intensive care unit. However, one of the three was admitted for a reason other than monkeypox.
The other two cases admitted to intensive care are said to have died of monkey pox. Their deaths were reported earlier by the WHO, which said two people had died from the virus in Spain.
Some of the patients (41) were health professionals, but they are not said to have been occupationally exposed to the virus.
The WHO activated its highest level of alert, the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), on 24 July to step up the fight against monkeypox, also known as simian orthopoxviruses. The organization expects an increase in the number of deaths.
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