WHO stresses monkeypox surge not linked to monkeys amid attack reports - The Guardian

The World Health Organization has stressed that monkeypox outbreaks are not linked to monkeys, following a number of reported attacks on the primates in Brazil.

She said the primates could not be blamed for the surge in monkeypox cases in Brazil after reports in a number of cities of physical attacks on and poisonings of monkeys.

Rescuers and activists suspect the monkeys were poisoned and attacked after three monkeypox cases were confirmed in the area.

While the virus could jump from animals to humans, the recent global explosion of cases was due to close-contact transmission between humans, Harris said.