Monkeypox cases concentrated among men who have sex with men: WHO's regional director

Monkeypox is spreading rapidly and the cases are concentrated mostly among men who have sex with men, WHO's regional director said.

With monkeypox disease being declared a public health emergency of international concern, the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Regional Director, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, said that with cases concentrated among men who have sex with men, it is possible to curtail further spread of the disease with focused efforts among at-risk population

The WHO on Sunday called on countries in South - East Asia Region to strengthen surveillance and public health measures for monkeypox.

“Monkeypox has been spreading rapidly and to many countries that have not seen it before, which is a matter of great concern. However, with cases concentrated among men who have sex with men, it is possible to curtail further spread of the disease with focussed efforts among at-risk population,” Dr Poonam, Regional Director, South-East Asia Region, said.

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Globally, over 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported from 75 countries. In the WHO South-East Asia Region, four cases of monkeypox have been reported, three from India and one from Thailand. The cases in India are among nationals who returned home from the Middle East, while in Thailand an international living in the country has been confirmed positive for monkeypox.

The Regional Director said, “Importantly, our focussed efforts and measures should be sensitive, devoid of stigma or discrimination.”

The decision to term monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) was announced by Dr Tedros, Director-General WHO, yesterday, a day after he convened yet another meeting of the IHR emergency committee to review the multi-country outbreak.