In Europe and the US, Rare Infectious Disease 'Monkeypox' Spreading

Monkeypox patients in Congo, Africa, 1996-1997. /Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] The rare infectious disease "monkeypox" is spreading in Western countries, including Europe and the United States.

According to foreign media on the 20th, the zoonotic disease "monkeypox," which has seen consecutive cases since the beginning of this month in Europe and the United States, has spread to Canada and Australia.

Monkeypox is an endemic disease in the tropical rainforest regions of Central and West Africa, mainly transmitted through contact with animals such as rodents and primates or objects contaminated with pathogens.

It is primarily transmitted through the respiratory tract but can also be spread through sexual contact. The fatality rate varies between 1% and 10%, depending on the variant.

The World Health Organization (WHO) explained that human-to-human transmission of the monkeypox virus usually occurs through close contact with lesions, bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, or contaminated bedding.

Since early this month, cases of monkeypox infection have been rapidly increasing in Europe and the United States.

BBC reported that in the UK, since the first case on the 6th, nine confirmed cases had been identified by the 18th, and confirmed cases were also found in Spain (7 cases), Portugal (5 cases), Sweden (1 case), and Italy (1 case).

Additionally, French health authorities have reportedly identified suspected monkeypox cases and have begun related measures.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.