The World Health Organisation has confirmed that 780 cases of monkeypox have been reported since May 13, 2022.
These infections have been reported across Europe and in some American states as well as a small number of cases being reported in Mexico, Argentina, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates.
That shows an estimated tripling of the 257 cases it reported just one week ago on May 29, 2022.
READ MORE: Two more cases of monkeypox recorded in Ireland as WHO issue warning to festivalgoers
In the update, the WHO said cases had been detected in 27 countries where it is not considered "endemic.”
Health experts have said the risk to the general public “remains low,” however, there is the chance that this risk could be heightened if the virus continues to spread in new countries.
At this point, there have been no deaths reported and most people’s reactions have been mild as a result of the current outbreak.
The WHO also listed the non-endemic countries reporting the most cases as:
- Britain (207)
- Spain (156)
- Portugal (138)
- Canada (58)
- Germany (57)
"It is highly likely that other countries will identify cases and there will be further spread of the virus," it added.
Dr. Rosamund Lewis, the World Health Organization’s technical lead for monkeypox spoke earlier this week and said they expect the virus has been in widespread circulation for a lot longer than the last few weeks.
Speaking at a briefing, she said: “There may have been undetected transmission for a while.
“What we don’t know is how long that may have been.
"We don’t know if it’s weeks, months, or possibly a couple of years.”
In Ireland, there have been six identified cases of the virus, according to an update from the HPSC.
The health experts continue to remind the public that monkeypox spreads through close contact, including contact with the skin rash of someone infected with the virus.
People who closely interact with someone who is infectious are at greater risk for infection, and this includes household members, sexual partners, and healthcare workers.
The risk of spread within the community remains "very low" according to the update, however, symptoms of monkeypox virus to look out for include:
- itchy rash (see below)
- fever (>38.50C)
- headache
- muscle aches
- backache
- swollen lymph nodes
- chills
- exhaustion
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