Monkeypox Vaccine: WHO Recommends Limited Use Amid Ongoing Outbreak

The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised against vaccinating all groups against monkeypox, citing the lack of a known cure for the disease. According to Shatha Muhammad, WHO technical officer and monkeypox event director, the vaccine should be reserved for healthcare workers and those in close contact with patients.

Monkeypox is a viral disease transmitted from animals to humans, and more recently, from human to human. Its symptoms include skin rash, swelling, lymph node enlargement, body aches, discharge, and blisters. While there is no cure, treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms with antipyretics, ointments, creams, and painkillers.

The WHO emphasizes that the best time to start treatment is when symptoms appear. Monkeypox has an incubation period of 1 to 21 days and belongs to the smallpox family. Researchers are currently exploring antivirals and new vaccines to combat the disease.

Farida Mahzoub, a technical officer at the WHO’s Infectious Risk Prevention, Preparedness and Health Emergencies Unit, notes that vaccination provides protection but is not the only way to prevent infection. The WHO stresses that the monkeypox virus does not currently represent a pandemic or international pandemic.

On August 14, the WHO declared monkeypox a “health emergency of international concern” following outbreaks in several countries worldwide. As the situation continues to evolve, the WHO recommends targeted vaccination and emphasizes the importance of palliative measures to improve symptoms.

Key Facts About Monkeypox

• Monkeypox is a viral disease transmitted from animals to humans and between humans.
• Symptoms include skin rash, swelling, lymph node enlargement, body aches, discharge, and blisters.
• There is no known cure, but treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms.
• The incubation period is 1 to 21 days.
• Monkeypox belongs to the smallpox family.