June 1, 2022, marked a significant milestone in the global fight against monkeypox as the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported over 550 confirmed cases in 30 non-endemic countries.
According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, most cases have been reported among men who have sex with men presenting with symptoms at sexual health clinics.
"So far, most monkeypox cases have been reported among men who have sex with men presenting with symptoms at sexual health clinics. But all of us must work hard to fight stigma, which is not just wrong, but could also prevent infected individuals from seeking care, making it harder to stop transmission," Tedros said.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the spread of the virus, but the sudden appearance of monkeypox in many countries at the same time suggests there may have been undetected transmission for some time.
WHO's leading monkeypox expert, Dr Rosamund Lewis, has urged married couples with symptoms of monkeypox to avoid sex, citing the virus's well-known mode of transmission: close physical contact.
Meanwhile, the WHO has also highlighted the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, noting that cases and deaths are increasing in the Americas, Western Pacific region, and Africa.
"Reported cases and deaths from Covid-19 continue to decline globally, although this trend should be interpreted with caution because many countries have reduced the number of tests they do, which in turn reduces the number of cases they find," Tedros said.