A large multi-country outbreak of monkeypox across 41 countries in the WHO European Region, 7 March to 23 August 2022

Following the report of a non-travel-associated cluster of monkeypox cases by the United Kingdom in May 2022, 41 countries across the WHO European Region have reported 21,098 cases and two deaths by 23 August 2022. Nowcasting suggests a plateauing in case notifications. Most cases (97%) are MSM, with atypical rash-illness presentation. Spread is mainly through close contact during sexual activities. Few cases are reported among women and children. Targeted interventions of at-risk groups are needed to stop further transmission.

[Bronchial obstruction exacerbated during beta blocker therapy]

The authors analyse data of 40 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, in whom the bronchial obstruction made such a severe progress during beta-blocker therapy necessary to admit them to the hospital. Most of them were middle-aged patients with chronic bronchitis, only 8 suffered from bronchial asthma. Because of cardial disorders, usually beta-blockers were given for several days (1/3-rd of the patients received Betaloc, a cardioselective drug), besides 2/3-rd of them received bronchodilator therapy, too. In spite of this, all patients needed hospitalize because of dyspnoea, obstruction, and hypoxaemia in 1/3-rd. Although deterioration of their condition has resulted, beta-blocker wasn't discontinued by the medical attendant, notwithstanding chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was known previously in 33 patients.