The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Monkeypox infections continue to rise globally, with more than 35,000 cases across 92 countries and territories, and 12 deaths.
WHO Director General, Dr Adhanom Ghebreyesus, disclosed this while speaking at a news conference from WHO headquarters in Geneva on Wednesday.
According to him, the majority of cases are being reported from Europe and the Americas, and mostly among men who have sex with men.
Ghebreyesus said that the primary focus for all countries must be to ensure they are ready for Monkey Pox, and to stop transmission.
He said countries should focus on stopping Monkeypox transmission by using effective public health tools, including enhanced disease surveillance, careful contact tracing, tailored risk communication and community engagement, and risk reduction measures.
Currently, global supplies of Monkeypox vaccines are limited, as is data about their effectiveness, noting that WHO is in contact with manufacturers, and with countries and organisations willing to share vaccine doses.
Speaking on COVID-19, the WHO chief said COVID-19 deaths had also increased over the last four weeks, rising by 35 per cent, with 15,000 lives lost in the past week alone.
He warned that with colder weather approaching in the northern hemisphere, and people spending more time indoors, the risk for more intense transmissions will only increase.
