Monkeypox outbreak and response efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Abstract

Monkeypox (MPX) is a viral zoonotic disease that is endemic in some countries of Central and Western Africa. Since 1 January 2022, cases of MPX have been reported to WHO by 74 Member States across all 6 WHO regions. As of 21 July 2022, a total of 15 328 laboratory confirmed cases and 72 probable cases, including 5 deaths, have been reported to WHO. Most (11 638/15 328, 76%) of the laboratory-confirmed cases were reported by countries of the WHO European Region, 22% (3316/15 328) by the Region of the Americas, 2% (301/15 328) by the African Region, less than 1% (53/15 328) by the Western Pacific Region, less than 1% (18/15 328) by the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) and less than 1% (2/15 328) by the Region of South-East Asia. All five deaths were reported by the African Region.