WHO remains cautious, but wants to be reassuring

With its skin lesions, its fevers, monkeypox is constantly rife in Africa. But this arrival of the virus on other continents worries experts. Cases have already been recorded in the United States, Canada and Australia. In Europe, the United Kingdom is affected. Portugal and Spain have the most contamination. In France, only one case has been proven.

Monday, May 23, the WHO wanted to be reassuring. This spread can be stopped. Most of those affected are under 50 years old, because the oldest have all been vaccinated against classic smallpox. Compulsory vaccination until 1979, date of its eradication. This immunity remains very effective against its cousin, monkey pox. The current spread is therefore seen in young people who have not been vaccinated. In the West, 200 cases have been reported, no deaths have been reported.