How
to protect yourself against monkeypox and what to do if you catch it.
KEY POINTS
- A
recent monkeypox outbreak across the U.S., Europe, Australia and the
Middle East has baffled health experts and is raising concerns of a wider
outbreak.
- The
majority of cases so far have spread through sex, with a particular
concentration among gay and bisexual men. However, anyone could be at risk
of catching monkeypox.
- Practicing
good hygiene and safe sex are among some of the precautions you can take
to reduce your risk of contracting the virus.
- A recent monkeypox outbreak across the U.S., Europe,
Australia and the Middle East has baffled health experts and is raising
concerns of a wider outbreak.
As
of Wednesday, there were 346 confirmed and suspected cases in 22 countries
outside of Africa, where the virus is endemic, according to Our World in Data.
It
marks the first known community spread of the virus. Prior to this outbreak,
cases had been linked to travel to regions where the virus is endemic or
imported animals carrying the virus.
The
majority of new cases have spread
through sex, with a particular concentration among men
who have sex with other men. However, the World Health Organization
has cautioned that anyone could be at risk of contracting the virus. Children,
pregnant woman and the immunocompromised are considered particularly at risk.
“Anyone
who has close contact with someone who is infectious is at risk,” a release on
the WHO’s website said Wednesday.
Monkeypox
is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus, part of the same family as
smallpox, although typically less severe. Smallpox vaccinations have proven 85%
effective against monkeypox.
The
WHO said Monday that it was unlikely mass vaccinations
would be required to combat the outbreak. But, given the pace of the outbreak
and the lack of clarity around its cause, the public health body urged people
to practice good hygiene and safe sex to help control its spread.
Protecting
yourself against monkeypox
While
health experts agree the risks to the general public are low, there are several
precautions you can take to reduce your risk of contracting the virus.
Recommendations
from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.K.’s National
Health Service and WHO include:
- Avoid coming into
contact with people recently diagnosed with the virus or those who may
have been infected.
- Wear a face mask if you
are in close contact with someone who has symptoms.
- Use condoms and keep an
eye out for symptoms if you have recently changed sexual partners.
- Avoid coming into
contact with animals that could be carrying the virus. This includes sick
or dead animals and particularly those with a history of infection, such
as monkeys, rodents and prairie dogs.
- Practice good hand
hygiene, especially after coming into contact with infected — or suspected
infected —animals or humans. For instance, wash your hands with soap and
water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Use personal protective
equipment (PPE) when caring for patients with confirmed or suspected
monkeypox infection.
- Only eat meat that has
been cooked thoroughly.
Monkeypox
can also be transmitted via surfaces and materials, so it’s wise to avoid
coming into contact with materials that have been in contact with a sick human
or animal.
“This
is a virus that is super stable outside the human host, so it can live on objects
like blankets and things like that,” Dr. Scott Gottlieb said
Monday.
“Good
practice would be to regularly wash clothing and bedsheets at high
temperature,” Emmanuel Andre, professor at medicine at Belgium’s Ku Leuven
University, told CNBC Wednesday.
Next
pandemic threat can come from everywhere, public health expert says
However,
he said he did not think it would be necessary for the general public to start
avoiding public areas, taxis, shopping and hotels.
“The
general population don’t need to take many more precautions than we do in usual
life,” he said. “If people are in the high-risk population, where they are
aware they are in a high risk environment, then they should take extra
precautions.”
What
to do if you catch monkeypox
If
you suspect that you may have contracted monkeypox, you should isolate yourself
from physical contact with others and seek medical advice immediately.
Initial symptoms of monkeypox include fever,
headaches, muscle ache, swelling and backpain. Rashes and lesions then
typically emerge on the face, hands, feet, eyes, mouth or genitals within one to five days. Those rashes turn into raised bumps and
then blisters, which may fill with white fluid before breaking and scabbing
over.
Many
of the symptoms of the virus can be easily confused with other diseases, such
as chickenpox, herpes or syphilis, however, so medical confirmation is
important.
If
you are diagnosed with monkeypox, you will need to isolate until the virus has
passed. The illness is typically mild and most people recover within 2 to 4
weeks.
While
medical advice currently varies across countries, the U.K.’s National Health
Service (NHS) notes that you may need to stay in a specialist hospital to
prevent infection spreading to other people.
- CORONA VIRUS
- MONKEY POX
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- INFERTILITY
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- BEST WAY TO SLEEP A CHILD
- CHILD FEVER REDUCING
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- WOMEN BEARDS
- DATES
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