With the COVID-19 pandemic, the threat of 'the monkeypox virus' continues to increase. Prof. Dr. Meral Sönmezoğlu, Head of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Department, Yeditepe University Hospitals, explained who was most targeted by this virus.

April 2022 The monkeypox virus, which is endemic in Africa, has entered the epidemic potential for the first time in non-endemic countries other than Africa, where it is endemic in Europe. In fact, the monkeypox virus, which was first isolated in Denmark in the 1950s and was shown in animals in 1970, made its first outbreak outside of Africa in 2022. From April 2022 to July 4, so far, 5783 cases have been confirmed as laboratories. 86% of these confirmed cases are in European countries. There was a low rate of deaths from monkeypox. Two species are most common in the Congo and West Africa. The species seen in the Congo have a mortality rate of between 1% and 5%. In 5783 cases, a single case died due to complications in Nigeria. It is generally possible to say that it is a self-healing and self-limiting disease.

Contaminated by Close Contact with Lesions

Monkeypox virus can be transmitted by inhalation by contact and by droplet exposure through large droplets. It is transmitted from person to person through skin lesions, body fluids, contact, or breathing. The incubation period of the virus is between 5 and 21 days. When the incubation period ends, headache, fever, malaise, weakness, and then rashes appear. These rashes, which are larger and more pronounced than chickenpox, are transmitted by contact. In addition to close contact, surfaces contaminated with liquids from these lesions have also been shown to be contaminated by immediate contact with people from towels. But it is possible to say that it is mainly transmitted by close contact with lesions.

99.5 percent of the Cases were Male.

This virus is not related to the COVID-19 virus, which is still being transmitted as a pandemic virus. The recent outbreak showed that 99.5 percent of the cases were male. And again, most cases are patients with immunodeficiency. About 30 percent are HIV-positive. The 2022 outbreak was mostly seen in gay men and it was shown that close lesions were transmitted by skin contact and sexual contact, while classical information showed that the monkeypox was not transmitted by sexual contact, this latest outbreak was also transmitted by sexual contact.

What are the Symptoms of the Monkeypox Virus?

The most important symptoms are fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, painful swelling in the lymph nodes, and skin rashes that begin after symptoms of weakness. The rashes may be very itchy. It can turn into a discharging wound by creating an image filled with water and then opening it. The rashes are similar to smallpox but milder. Smallpox was declared as a disease eradicated by WHO in 1980 and the vaccine was discontinued. Although the clinical course of the disease is milder than smallpox, it may be more severe in unvaccinated persons, children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised persons.

Is There a Vaccine for Monkeypox Virus?

There is a known vaccine for the disease. It was used in the United States for a while but was later not produced due to low demand. However, 85% of people who have been vaccinated against chickenpox and have chickenpox antibodies have been shown to have protection against monkeypox. For this reason, it is recommended that those who do not have the chickenpox vaccine should have this vaccine.

How to Protect Yourself from Monkeypox Virus?

First of all, it is necessary to know that the loss of life rate of this disease is not very high disease. However, it is important to know and apply prevention methods as it threatens public health, and a case is diagnosed in Türkiye. First of all, close contact with people who have been diagnosed should be avoided. It is necessary not to touch the patient's lesions, to use protective equipment and to stay away from any surface that has come into contact with the patient's lesions with gloves or clothes, and to apply disinfection.

Press Coverage: sozcu