WHO: Monkeypox cases drop 21%, reversing month-long increase

GENEVA (AP) — The number of monkeypox cases reported globally dropped 21% in the last week, reversing a month-long trend of rising infections. That is a possible sign the outbreak may be starting to decline in Europe, according to an report issued Thursday by the World Health Organization. In the past month, WHO said cases in the Americas accounted for 60% of the monkeypox cases while Europe comprised about 38%. It said infections in the Americas showed “a continuing steep rise.” Since monkeypox outbreaks in Europe and North America were identified in May, health officials say its spread has almost been exclusively in gay and bisexual men.