The recent outbreak of monkeypox outside regions where it normally occurs in Africa is now an international risk, according to the WHO.
Those who contract monkey pox can suffer from fever, headache, muscle aches and general malaise. After a few days, a rash with blisters appears on the skin. Usually people don’t get very sick from an infection.
No venereal disease
The virus currently mainly affects men who have sex with men. But it is not a venereal disease: the virus spreads through skin-to-skin contact. Anyone can get it.
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According to the WHO, 14,000 infections have been identified in the current outbreak in the world where almost eight billion people live. This happened in 71 different countries. In the Netherlands, the counter stands at more than seven hundred. Worldwide, five deaths have been attributed to monkey pox.
Covid-19 in polio
In addition to monkey pox, two other diseases have the highest warning level of the WHO. These are Covid-19 (corona) and polio. The Mexican flu (2009), Ebola (2014 and 2019) and the Zika virus (2016) were also previously declared an international public health hazard.
People from the risk groups will soon be able to receive a vaccination against the virus. RTL Nieuws spoke earlier with Martijn, who is looking forward to getting his shot:
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