Europe’s monkeypox outbreak ‘biggest ever’

More than 100 cases of monkeypox have been reported in Europe, with German authorities describing the outbreak as the largest ever seen in the region.

Cases have now been confirmed in countries like United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, France, United States and Australia.

First identified in monkeys, disease usually spreads by close contact and has rarely spread outside of Africa, so this series of cases has raised concerns.

However, scientists do not expect the outbreak to develop into a pandemic like covid-19since the virus does not spread as easily as SARS-COV-2.

Monkeypox is usually a mild viral illness, characterized by symptoms of fever as well as a characteristic bumpy rash.

“With several confirmed cases in the UK, Spain and Portugal, this is the largest and most widespread outbreak of monkeypox ever seen in Europe“said the medical service of the German armed forces, which detected its first case in the country on Friday.

Fabian Leendertz, from the Robert Koch Institute, describes the epidemic as an epidemic.

“However, it is very unlikely that this epidemic will last for long. Cases can be isolated well via contact tracing and there are also effective drugs and vaccines that can be used if needed,” he said.