The World Health Organisation (WHO) says there have been 131 confirmed monkeypox cases and 106 further suspected cases since the first was reported on May 7.

According to WHO, while the outbreak is unusual, it remains “containable’’ and limited.

Monkeypox is a usually mild viral infection that is endemic in parts of the west and central Africa.

It spreads chiefly through close contact and, until the recent outbreak, has only rarely been seen in other parts of the world.

The majority of the recent cases have been reported in Europe.

 “We encourage you all to increase the surveillance of monkeypox to see where transmission levels are and understand where it is going,’’ said Sylvie Briand, WHO director for Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness. 

She noted that it was unclear if the cases were the “tip of the iceberg’’ or if the peak in the transmission had already passed.

Speaking at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Ms Briand reiterated WHO’s view that it was unlikely that the virus had mutated.

But she said transmission might be driven by a change in human behaviour, particularly as people returned to socialising amid the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions worldwide.

The West African strain of monkeypox, which is the one identified in the current outbreak, has a mortality rate of around one per cent.

She added that vaccines and treatments were available for monkeypox, calling for appropriate containment measures, more research, and global collaboration.

“Let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill,’’ she said. 

(Reuters/NAN)