Don't Blame the Monkeys for Monkeypox, W.H.O. Said after the attacks
The outbreak is centered in humans, not animals, health officials say, after a report that some monkeys have been injured in São Paulo, Brazil, for fear of transmission, local authorities say.
Monkeys are not responsible for the monkeypox outbreak that has sparked alerts including a national health emergency in the United States as the virus and disease continued to spread, the World Health Organization said this week after reports of animal attacks in Brazil. /p>
At least 10 monkeys were rescued last week in São José do Rio Preto, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, after authorities discovered signs indicating that 'they had been attacked or poisoned, for fear of transmission of monkeypox, according to the news site G1 formation of this country. Seven of the monkeys later died.
São Paulo police are investigating the cases and say animal mistreatment could be punishable by three months to one year in prison.< /p>
Despite its name, the risk of monkeypox transmission during this outbreak centers on humans, not animals, Margaret Harris , a W.H.O. spokesperson, said at a press conference on Tuesday.
"What people need to know very clearly is the transmission we are seeing happening between humans," she said. "It's close contact transmission. The concern should be where it is transmitted in the human population and what humans can do to protect themselves from catching it and passing it on. They certainly shouldn't be attacking people. 'animals.”
The statement was prompted by a question at the press conference in Geneva about the recent ape attacks in Brazil.
The virus was named after its initial discovery in a group of laboratory monkeys in 1958 in Denmark, but rodents are thought to be the primary animal hosts of the virus, Ms Harris said
Some scientists and public health officials have called for a new name for the disease, citing racist overtones and stigma, but no official change has been made. announced. They say the current name could have "potential effects devastating and stigmatizing" or wrongly linking the virus only to the African continent, when it is now an international crisis.
The W.H.O. has ongoing conversations about what the right name for the virus should be, Ms Harris said. She said an announcement would be imminent.
"Any stigmatization of anyone infected is going to increase transmission," Ms Harris said. "Because if people are afraid to identify themselves as infected then they won't get treated and they won't take precautions and we will see more transmission."
The monkeypox virus is mainly found in central and western Africa, particularly in areas near tropical rainforests - and rope squirrels, tree squirrels, Gambian pouch rats and dormice have all been identified as potential carriers.
People who get sick often suffer from fever, headaches, bacteria...
The outbreak is centered in humans, not animals, health officials say, after a report that some monkeys have been injured in São Paulo, Brazil, for fear of transmission, local authorities say.
Monkeys are not responsible for the monkeypox outbreak that has sparked alerts including a national health emergency in the United States as the virus and disease continued to spread, the World Health Organization said this week after reports of animal attacks in Brazil. /p>
At least 10 monkeys were rescued last week in São José do Rio Preto, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, after authorities discovered signs indicating that 'they had been attacked or poisoned, for fear of transmission of monkeypox, according to the news site G1 formation of this country. Seven of the monkeys later died.
São Paulo police are investigating the cases and say animal mistreatment could be punishable by three months to one year in prison.< /p>
Despite its name, the risk of monkeypox transmission during this outbreak centers on humans, not animals, Margaret Harris , a W.H.O. spokesperson, said at a press conference on Tuesday.
"What people need to know very clearly is the transmission we are seeing happening between humans," she said. "It's close contact transmission. The concern should be where it is transmitted in the human population and what humans can do to protect themselves from catching it and passing it on. They certainly shouldn't be attacking people. 'animals.”
The statement was prompted by a question at the press conference in Geneva about the recent ape attacks in Brazil.
The virus was named after its initial discovery in a group of laboratory monkeys in 1958 in Denmark, but rodents are thought to be the primary animal hosts of the virus, Ms Harris said
Some scientists and public health officials have called for a new name for the disease, citing racist overtones and stigma, but no official change has been made. announced. They say the current name could have "potential effects devastating and stigmatizing" or wrongly linking the virus only to the African continent, when it is now an international crisis.
The W.H.O. has ongoing conversations about what the right name for the virus should be, Ms Harris said. She said an announcement would be imminent.
"Any stigmatization of anyone infected is going to increase transmission," Ms Harris said. "Because if people are afraid to identify themselves as infected then they won't get treated and they won't take precautions and we will see more transmission."
The monkeypox virus is mainly found in central and western Africa, particularly in areas near tropical rainforests - and rope squirrels, tree squirrels, Gambian pouch rats and dormice have all been identified as potential carriers.
People who get sick often suffer from fever, headaches, bacteria...
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