Monkeypox: ECDC publishes rapid risk assessment

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has published a rapid risk assessment  A specialised field of applied science that involves reviewing scientific data and studies in order to evaluate risks associated with certain hazards. It involves four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment and risk characterisation. following an outbreak of monkeypox (MPX), affecting the UK, EU/EEA countries, and North America.

The focus of ECDC’s MPX assessment is centred on human-to-human transmission and, to date, EFSA is not aware of any reports of infections in animals (pets or wild animals) in the EU. There is a possible risk of human-to-animal transmission in Europe, therefore close collaboration between human and veterinary public health authorities is needed to manage exposed pets and prevent the disease from being transmitted to wildlife.

EFSA’s experts are following the progress of the MPX outbreak closely with a focus on the possibility of human-to-animal spillover in the EU.

• Read the ECDC rapid risk assessment monkeypox multi-country outbreak from 23 May 2022

This page was updated on 23 June to remove the Q&A. The updated Q&A are available on the topic page Monkeypox.