Dr. Tedros Adhanom, WHO Director-General, explained the decreased Covid-19 and monkeypox cases across Europe have helped to rank the continent in high risk level, since many people can be careless of and transmission of both diseases can ramp up.

“Europe will have to live with Covid-19 but not with monkeypox, as long as it conducts the necessary health measures to control, curb and eliminate transmission, since the disease is not considered as endemic in any country,” Dr. Adhnom stressed at the 72nd Meeting of the World Health Organization’s Regional Committee for Europe.

One-third of the European population remains unvaccinated against Covid-19, 25% of healthcare workers and 20% of the elderly.

“These vaccination gaps account for a huge risk for all,” the WHO director-general added.

pll/mem/joe