African scientists surprised by spread of monkeypox cases

By Rédaction Africanews with AP - May 20, 2022

Scientists who have followed the numerous monkeypox outbreaks in Africa say they are baffled by the recent spread of the disease to Europe and North America.

Until now, cases of the smallpox-related disease have only been seen in people with links to central and west Africa.

However, over the past week, Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the United States, Sweden and Canada have all reported infections, mainly in young men who had never travelled to Africa.

France, Germany, Belgium and Australia confirmed their first cases of monkeypox on Friday.

"I am stunned by this. Every day I wake up and see that new countries are being infected," said Oyewale Tomori, a virologist who headed the Nigerian Academy of Sciences and sits on several World Health Organisation (WHO) advisory boards.

"This is not the kind of spread we've seen in West Africa, so there may be something new happening in the West," he added.

https://www.africanews.com/2022/05/20/african-scientists-surprised-...

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