The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday said there have been 131 confirmed monkeypox cases and 106 further suspected cases since the first was reported on May 7, outside the countries where it usually spreads.
Briand added that particularly as people return to socialising as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted worldwide.
Many, but not all, of the cases have been reported in men who have sex with men, and Briand said it was particularly important to try to prevent sexual transmission.
Symptoms include a fever and a distinctive bumpy rash.
The West African strain of monkeypox, which is the one identified in the current outbreak, has a mortality rate of around 1 per cent.
While she said the outbreak was not normal, she stressed that it was containable.
There are also vaccines and treatments available for monkeypox, she added, calling for appropriate containment measures, more research, and global collaboration.
“Let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill,’’ she said.
