World Health Organization records 92 confirmed cases of monkeypox

Map published by the WHO showing the areas of monkeypox confirmed cases
Map published by the WHO showing the areas of monkeypox confirmed cases

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Saturday the recording of 92 confirmed cases of monkeypox in 12 countries, mostly in the West.

The recorded cases were in “Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the US.”

WHO added that there will be more cases of monkeypox identified as surveillance expands in non-endemic countries.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms very similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe. It is caused by the monkeypox virus which belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family. There are two clades of monkeypox virus: the West African clade and the Congo Basin (Central African) clade.

The name monkeypox originates from the initial discovery of the virus in monkeys in a Danish laboratory in 1958. The first human case was identified in a child in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970, according to the organization.   

The symptoms begin with fever, headache, muscle pains, swollen lymph nodes, and feeling tired.