london the world health organization was due to hold an emergency meeting on friday to discuss the recent outbreak of monkeypox a viral infection more common to west and central africa after over 100 cases were confirmed or suspected in europein what germany described as the largest outbreak in europe ever cases have been reported in at least eight european countries belgium france germany italy portugal spain sweden and the uk as well as us canada and australia the disease typically spreads through close contact and has rarely spread outside africa so this outbreak has triggered concernhoweverscientists do not expect the outbreak to evolve into a pandemic like covid given the virus does not spread as easily as sarscov2this is the largest and most widespread outbreak of monkeypox ever seen in europe said germanys armed forces medical service there isnt a specific vaccine for monkeypox but data shows that the vaccines used to eradicate smallpox are up to 85 effective against monkeypox according to the who