On 23 June the World Health Organisation (WHO) plans to call an extraordinary meeting to discuss if the outbreak of monkeypox can be considered a global state of emergency for healthcare.
As it is known, Latvia’s government has decided to add monkeypox to the list of infectious diseases. How much do we know about this dangerous infectious disease?
The head of WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus believes the outbreak of monkeypox is unusual and is a cause for concern. This is why a state of emergency committee will be formed to assess the threat level, as reported by MedicalXPress.
«Monkeypox is a rare pox-like disease that is mostly found in tropical countries in central and western Africa. The disease was uncovered for laboratory monkeys in 1958. Later studies of African animals revealed orthopoxvirus in multiple African rodent species. Laboratory tests revealed that different primate species, mice, rats and rabbits can get infected with monkeypox.
Squirrels and rodents are considered the reservoir of this disease in Africa, which makes the name slightly misleading,»
according to information from Latvia’s Disease Prevention and Monitoring Centre (SPKC).
Because of this reason experts consider changing the name of the disease, because although monkeypox was uncovered in monkeys first, in most cases the infection is spread by rodents.
Infection of humans was registered for the first time in 1970. But this year a rapid outbreak of monkeypox started in different countries around the world – 23 countries had reported infection cases by the end of May. In June it was reported monkeypox was found among prairie dogs in the US, as well as giant rats in Gambia and people. On 3 June Latvia reported two confirmed monkeypox infection cases. The disease continues spreading globally.
Symptoms of monkeypox include headache, acute fever (body temperature above 38 C), swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain, back pain, weakness and skin rash (blistering). The disease generally lasts 2-4 weeks. Death rate is 3-6%.
«Infection happens when a person comes into contact an animal or human infected with the virus
or touches biological materials or the environment infected with the virus. The virus then enters the body through damaged skin (even if not obvious), respiratory system or mucous membranes, including those of the eyes, nose or mouth. The virus spreads from person to person mainly using droplets, which means a relatively long period of eye-to-eye contact is needed. Other person to person infection methods include indirect contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids or through the spread of the liquid of vesicles on the skin,» according to information from SPKC.
Monkeypox incubation period (the period of time between initial infection and symptoms appearing) is five to twenty one days.
If a person suspects infection, specialists recommend contacting their general practitioner and report symptoms. The person should be isolated from other people if there is a risk of infection.
Medical personnel are to report every suspicious infection case to SPKS, so that experts can perform epidemiological investigation and organise the necessary countermeasures, including survey of contact persons and medical observation. It is also necessary to perform laboratory tests to confirm diagnoses. When treating patients, it is necessary to use individual protection gear.
SPKC stresses that residents who visit central and western Africa should refrain contacts with potentially infected animals, including animals that seem sick or found dead in areas where monkeypox is know to be, as well as avoid touching areas and materials that were previously touched by sick animals. After contacting with infected animals or people, it is necessary to maintain proper hand hygiene – wash hands with soap and water or use spirit-containing hand disinfectants.
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BNN previously reported that on Tuesday, 14 June, Latvia’s government decided to add monkeypox to the list of infectious diseases.