The Geneva deputy cantonal doctor is calling for calm after the World Health Organization issued an international alert to the increasing spread of Monkey Pox – otherwise known as Mpox.
Simon Regard says the virus isn’t harmless, and can cause painful rashes and fever – but is benign mainly.
Those travelling to the most affected areas should be vaccinated, especially those in risk groups, which is mainly sexually active homosexual men.
But doctors also point out, it can be caught by simple skin to skin contact, so it’s not considered a sexually transmitted disease.
The Federal Health Office has distributed 40,000 doses of the vaccine to the cantons – and 13,000 have been used.
But the government says it won’t be sending doses to Africa, despite a plea from the WHO which is asking countries with a vaccine stock to send it to affected areas.
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