SWITZERLAND: With cases of Monkeypox surging around the world, it’s not a good time to be a monkey.
The primates have, in recent days, been physically attacked - and even killed - by poisoning and stoning attacks in Brazil, according to local media reports that cite police officials.
In the last week, at least 10 animals of the marmoset and capuchin types were found displaying signs of intoxication or aggression, leading to fears that they had been poisoned, according to Brazilian news site G1.
Seven of the monkeys died, while the others are under observation at a zoo in São José do Rio Preto, a municipality in the state of São Paulo.
The assaults have led to the World Health Organisation (WHO) - which declared Monkeypox a global health emergency last month - issuing a reminder that despite the virus’ name, monkeys should not be blamed for its transmission.
“What people need to know very clearly is the transmission we are seeing is happening between humans to humans,” Margaret Harris, a WHO spokesperson told reporters. “They should certainly not be attacking any animals.”Globally, there are almost 32,000 confirmed cases of Monkeypox, according to data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases have been reported in 89 countries, and the outbreak is prominent in Europe, where most of the infections have been recorded following an outbreak that began in the spring.
- stuff.co.nz
Add new comment