The Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, has issued a warning for us to be vigilant and prevent Monkeypox following the case where the United Kingdom found an increase in Monkeypox infections from 4 to 7 people recently. Monkeypox is not a new disease as it has been epidemic for more than 20 years. This disease is a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans and can also be transmitted from person to person. It is commonly found in Central and West African countries including Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. However, cases have also been found in countries outside Africa such as the United States, Israel, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, usually due to international travel or the importation of infected animals.
What is Monkeypox?
Monkeypox or Monkeypox virus is a double-stranded DNA virus caused by a virus from the Poxviridae family, classified under the genus Orthopoxvirus, similar to several other viruses including the virus that causes smallpox in humans (variola virus), the virus used to produce the smallpox vaccine (vaccinia virus), and cowpox virus. The monkeypox virus is found in many animals, especially primates and rodents such as squirrels and wild rats. Humans can also be infected. The incubation period before symptoms appear is approximately 5-21 days, but symptoms usually appear within 10-14 days.
Monkeypox infection can be divided as follows:
- From animals to humans: Occurs through direct contact with blood, secretions, or pus from animals, being bitten or scratched by infected animals, including preparing food from infected wild meat that is not cooked thoroughly.
- From humans to humans: Although the chance of human-to-human transmission is low, it can occur through close contact with patients via secretions or pus, and respiratory transmission through droplets from coughing or sneezing.
Symptoms of Monkeypox infection
- Initial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, back pain, and swollen lymph nodes. After 1-3 days, a rash will begin to appear on the face and trunk, then spread to the arms and legs. The rash is most prominent on the face, arms, and legs. These symptoms last about 2-4 weeks. Most patients recover on their own, with severe symptoms mostly found in children. In African countries, the mortality rate is about 10%.
- The rash characteristics by stage are as follows: starting with red raised rash (Maculopapular), clear blisters (Vesicles), pus-filled blisters (Pustules), pus-filled blisters with a central depression (Umbilicated Pustules), crusts (Crusted), and peeling sores.
How to prevent Monkeypox infection
- Avoid direct contact with blood, pus, or secretions such as saliva, droplets, or lymph from infected animals, wild animals, or from people suspected of being ill or at risk of infection.
- Avoid eating undercooked meat.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based gel, keep personal items separate and do not share with others, and avoid touching the face, eyes, nose, and mouth with hands.
