On Tuesday, the World Health Organization confirmed that monkeypox, which is spreading around the world, has nothing to do with monkeys, after it was reported that these animals were attacked in Brazil.
The World Health Organization spokeswoman, Margaret Harris, said during a regular press conference in Geneva, in response to a question about reports by the “G-1” news website that dozens of monkeys were poisoned, and some of them were injured in less than a week in the Rue de Brito reserve in the state of Rio de Janeiro “People need to know that the current transmission (of the virus) is occurring between humans.”
Other monkeys were stoned, tracked and poisoned in different Brazilian cities, according to the website, which reported on the “Renctas” association to combat the illegal wildlife trade.
Brazil has recorded more than 1,700 cases and one death from monkeypox, according to World Health Organization statistics.
Globally, more than 28,100 injuries and 12 deaths were recorded.
The term smallpox was used when this virus was discovered in 1958 in monkeys in a laboratory in Denmark, but it was also discovered in other types of animals, especially rodents.
The first human infection was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Harris explained that this virus can be transmitted from animals to humans, but the current spread of the epidemic in the world is attributed to the close relationships between humans.
And she added that people “should not attack animals,” noting that the best way to limit the spread of the virus is to recognize symptoms, get medical help, and take “necessary precautions to prevent transmission.”
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