Report Says Monkeypox may Slow Down but Not be Eliminated

Monkeypox may never be eliminated because numerous infections are going under the radar, and pet animals could continue to harbor the virus.

Adam Kucharski, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said it was unlikely the current outbreak would spiral into a pandemic like Covid because it spreads through prolonged close contact.

Monkeypox - Causes, Symptoms, Signs, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention
Monkeypox infection is a zoonotic viral infection that usually lasts for 3 weeks. It is caused by the monkeypox virus and is characterized by rash or pox-like symptoms.

‘Monkeypox may now be endemic in the UK and Europe, leading experts have warned, as the virus normally confined to areas of Africa continues to spread around the world.’

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But the epidemiologist, who is also a member of the UK's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), warned the "biggest risk" is that cases will "not be eliminated in some places".

Monkeypox Will Never Be Eliminated

He said any persistent transmission increases the risk that the virus, closely related to smallpox, could be passed onto pets, meaning there will be permanent reservoirs of infection, as is the case in Africa.

EU health chiefs have already acknowledged this threat and are considering a cull for all hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs owned by monkeypox patients.

Advice to Meat Eaters Amidst the Outbreak of Monkeypox
UK's National Health Service (NHS) has warned meat eaters to carefully select and prepare their food as the incidence of monkeypox in the UK continues to rise.

In the UK, officials are also expected to release guidance telling infected Britons to keep their distance from family pets.

On Friday, a World Health Organization report said that the virus has spread to more than 20 countries, with about 200 confirmed cases and over 100 suspected cases in nations where it is typically not found.

Monkeypox Outbreak: What It Is, How Does It Spread & the Prevention
Is the monkeypox outbreak a global concern? A rare self-limiting disease caused by a virus like smallpox with over 100 cases confirmed in the world.

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Monkeypox Cases in United States
Nine monkeypox cases across seven states in the United States, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).