Number of monkeypox cases rises to 13 in Finland

The total number of monkeypox infections in the country has increased to 13 as three new cases were diagnosed in last week, said the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) in a press release on Monday.

Most of the infections originated outside of Finland. However, some of the infections occurred inside Finland, which means that the possibility of being infected in Finland is worth considering.

All of those who have been infected are men.

About 6,000 monkeypox cases have been diagnosed worldwide since mid-May. The countries with the highest numbers of reported cases have been the U.K., Spain, Germany, France, Portugal, and the United States. There have been cases in a total of 59 different countries.

Monkeypox is not easily transmitted from person to person, and it is not typically transmitted in brief everyday contacts. The risk of monkeypox spreading more widely among the population is low.

This year, most of the infections outside Africa have come through sexual contact.

Anyone can be infected, but the World Health Organisation WHO reports that infections have been highest among men who have had sex with other men, and with new, or several partners. Condoms, when used correctly, give protection against several different sexually transmitted diseases, but they do not give adequate protection against monkeypox.

Monkeypox is typically accompanied by a skin condition with papules or blisters for which there is no other explanation. Before the skin reacts, other typical symptoms of infection may appear, such as fever or headache.