PARIS, Aug. 16 (Luca) In the face of attacks on monkeys, the World Health Organization has reiterated that monkeypox outbreaks around the world have nothing to do with monkeys as animals.
Speaking at regular press conferences in Geneva, Switzerland, World Health Organization spokeswoman Margaret Harris stressed, "People need to know that the spread of [monkeypox virus] that we are currently seeing occurs from person to person," Agence France-Presse reported. ”
In less than a week, about 10 monkeys were poisoned and some were injured in less than a week in a nature reserve on the banks of the Preto River in the state of Sao Paulo, according to Brazilian media. According to Renctas, Brazil's anti-wildlife smuggling group, other monkeys were stoned, driven or poisoned in different Cities in Brazil. According to the World Health Organization, Brazil has reported more than 1,700 cases of monkeypox infection, of which 1 case has died.
Margaret Harris was asked about reports of attacks on monkeys in Brazil, and some believe the monkeypox outbreak is directly linked to monkeys. However, in fact, the monkeypox epidemic is only related to monkeys by its name. In 1958, a Danish laboratory discovered the virus in monkeys, and the name monkeypox was used at the time, but the virus was found in different animal species, especially rodents. The first case of monkeypox infection in humans appeared in congo in 1970.
Margaret Harris said monkeypox viruses can be transmitted from animals to humans, but the recent surge in monkeypox cases around the world is due to close human-to-human contact. She stressed that people "certainly should not attack animals". She added that the best way to stop the spread of the monkeypox virus is to recognize the symptoms, seek help from a doctor, and take precautions.
The World Health Organization launched its highest level of alert on the monkeypox outbreak at the end of July to tighten control over the outbreak. The most common symptoms of monkeypox infection are fever, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, etc., followed by or accompanied by a rash.
Wen | Lu Jia