– The risk to the population in general is still extremely low at the moment, but I think people need to pay attention, says Susan Hopkins at the authority and adds that most adults would get “relatively mild” symptoms.
The first British case was found on May 7 in a person who had recently traveled to Nigeria. Since then, about 20 cases have been reported in the UK. New statistics will come on Monday.
In Israel, it concerns a man who has returned home from abroad. He is said to be in a hospital in Tel Aviv and in good condition, the country’s health authority announces. Further suspected cases of monkey pox in Israel are under investigation, the health authority announces, urging everyone who comes from abroad with a fever and rash to seek medical help.
The man who is ill is believed to be the first case of smallpox that has been found in the Middle East. Even in Switzerland, it must be a man who has been infected abroad, writes BBC
Norway has also reported a case of the unusual disease. The case concerns a foreign man who visited the country in early May and who has now had monkey pox confirmed in his home country. Oslo Municipality has initiated an infection tracing, states Norwegian Public Health Agency FHI.
Later on Sunday, Austria stated that it has a confirmed case of monkey pox in a 35-year-old man, according to Reuters. He is being treated in hospital with symptoms typical of the disease.
On Sunday US President Joe Biden says there are concerns about the new outbreak, which has also been reported in Europe and the US. This is because a spread of infection would lead to consequences, according to the president.
– They have not informed me about the level of exposure yet, but it is something that everyone should worry about, he says.
Biden also said that work is underway to determine which vaccine can be effective against monkey pox.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified about 80 cases of monkey pox worldwide, and about 50 suspected cases in the ongoing outbreak.
On Monday, the EU’s infection control authority ECDC will publish a risk assessment report on monkey pox.
Read more:
The government classifies monkey pox as a general dangerous disease
Johan Nilsson: We know that about the disease smallpox
Probably EU-wide vaccine against monkey pox
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