Monkeypox is a contagious disease that is usually mild.
The World Health Organization said on Sunday that the sudden appearance of monkeypox in several countries where the disease is not commonly found suggests some time of undetected transmission and a recent increase in incidence.
As of May 26, a total of 257 confirmed cases and 120 suspected cases have been reported from 23 member states that are not endemic for the virus, the WHO said in a statement.
The agency said it expects more cases to be reported as surveillance in endemic and non-endemic countries.
Monkeypox is a contagious disease that is usually mild, and is endemic in parts of West and Central Africa. It spreads through close contact, so it can be controlled relatively easily through measures such as self-isolation and hygiene. See explainer:
Most of the cases reported so far have been traced to the UK, Spain and Portugal.
“The majority of reported cases so far have no established travel link to an endemic area and have been presented through primary care or sexual health services,” the UN agency said.
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