Monkeypox - a new pandemic? Here’s what WHO has to say about it

Amid rising cases of monkeypox in Europe and other parts of the world, new pandemic scare is lurking large. Around 23 countries have reported more than 300 cases of monkeypox so far.

New Delhi: World Health Organization (WHO) clarified on Monday, May 30, 2022 that the rising cases of monkeypox do not pose a serious threat of a new pandemic so far. It also said that it is too early to determine whether the disease is transmitting through asymptomatic people yet.

Monkeypox is being considered a mild disease with flu like symptoms and is spreading through contact with the affected person. The cases have mostly been reported in Europe.


The technical lead for monkeypox at WHO, Rosamund Lewis said it is unsure whether the disease outbreak is taking a shape of a global pandemic yet.

The infectious period for this disease has been recognized as the period between appearance of rashes to falling off of scabs. There is not much information available on the spread of the infection through asymptomatic persons as informed by WHO.

Rosamund Lewis added that there is no enough data to determine the transmission of monkeypox by people who do not display any symptoms but it is not a major feature of the spread.