Monkeypox is a disease that many people are interested in and worried about regarding a widespread outbreak. Having correct knowledge and understanding is important so that we can prepare to handle it without panic. Today, Dr. Patthaya Riangchan, an infectious disease specialist at the Internal Medicine Center, Phyathai Nawamin Hospital, provides information about “Monkeypox” to clear up doubts as follows.
Q: Where does monkeypox originate from?
A: Monkeypox has existed for a long time and originally comes from the African continent, where outbreaks occur periodically. However, it has recently become newsworthy because it has spread to many countries outside Africa, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, occurring around the same time.
Q: How is monkeypox different from chickenpox?
A: Monkeypox and chickenpox have similar characteristics, mainly skin symptoms, and both are caused by viruses. The difference is that monkeypox is a zoonotic disease transmitted from “animals to humans”, whereas chickenpox is transmitted from “human to human”.
Q: How can monkeypox be transmitted?
A: Monkeypox can be transmitted in two ways:
- Through respiratory secretions by breathing, coughing, or sneezing, similar to COVID-19, but transmission via these secretions is not as easy as with COVID-19.
- Through the skin, if there are scabs, bumps, or pus-filled lesions that have crusted over, the virus can spread through the pus or scabs.
Q: What are the initial symptoms of this disease, and who should be especially cautious?
A: The initial symptoms of monkeypox resemble general viral infection symptoms, including low to high fever, body aches, and mild cough. A distinctive symptom is swollen lymph nodes under the chin and neck, which can be felt by oneself, followed by the appearance of bumps. The treatment outcome for monkeypox is still uncertain, but the severity is usually mild, and the disease can resolve on its own.
Groups that should be especially cautious include those who have close contact with at-risk individuals, both asymptomatic and symptomatic, those who have contact with animals, or groups of animals that are reservoirs of the virus, such as rodents like goats, rats, squirrels, and rabbits. The disease is called “Monkeypox” because the virus was first discovered in monkeys, but the actual reservoir is rodents.
Q: Is monkeypox expected to cause an outbreak in Thailand, and how can it be prevented?
A: It is possible that monkeypox could cause an outbreak in Thailand despite screening measures. The incubation period ranges from 5-7 days up to about 2-3 weeks, so it is possible for infected individuals without symptoms to pass through screening and enter Thailand.
Ways to prevent monkeypox include:
- Avoid direct contact with blood, secretions, or pus-filled lesions of infected animals or wild animals.
- Avoid eating undercooked meat.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol gel after contact with animals or infected people.
- Do not keep wild animals as pets or import animals from abroad without disease screening.
- If returning from countries where the disease is present, undergo screening and monitor symptoms for 21 days. If symptoms appear, see a doctor immediately and isolate to prevent spreading the virus.
Q: Does smallpox vaccination protect against monkeypox?
A: In the past, smallpox vaccination was used to prevent smallpox. However, since 1980, Thailand has not administered the vaccine because the World Health Organization declared smallpox eradicated. Smallpox is a different disease from monkeypox, but studies in Africa have found that smallpox vaccination can protect against monkeypox infection by up to 85%.
Dr. Patthaya Riangchan
Infectious Disease Specialist
Internal Medicine Center, Phyathai Nawamin Hospital
