More than 35,000 confirmed cases of monkeypox have now been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from more than 92 countries and territories, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said on Wednesday, adding that 12 deaths have been reported.

File photo: AFP

"Almost 7,500 cases were reported last week, a 20 percent increase over the previous week," Ghebreyesus said at a WHO briefing in Geneva.

According to Ghebreyesus, vaccines may play an important part in controlling the monkeypox outbreak, and in many countries there is high demand for vaccines from the affected communities. The WHO has been in close contact with the manufacturers of vaccines, and with countries and organizations who are willing to share doses.