'We don't want people to panic:' experts not concerned monkeypox outbreak will lead to new pandemic

Eduardo Parra/Keystone Press Agency/www.globallookpress.com

Monkeypox — named because it was originally found in colonies of monkeys used for research.

The recent rise of monkeypox cases will not lead to another global pandemic, the World Health Organization experts says.

During a briefing on Monday, Dr. Rosamund Lewis, WHO's technical lead for monkeypox, was asked if the current outbreak of the rare virus could escalate to a pandemic. She responded, "The answer is we don't know, but we don't think so."

"At the moment, we are not concerned about a global pandemic," Lewis said, according to Associated Press. "We are concerned that individuals may acquire this infection through high-risk exposure if they don't have the information they need to protect themselves."

"We don't want people to panic or be afraid and think that it's like COVID or maybe worse," added Sylvie Briand, WHO's director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention. "This monkeypox disease is not COVID-19, it is a different virus."