Europe has recorded 19,429 cases of monkey pox. Spain continues to lead the infections with 5,719, becoming the European country most affected by the virus.
A report from the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) indicates that 505 people have required hospitalization due to the disease. Three people have required admission to the Intensive Care Units (ICU) and two people have died, both in Spain.
Coinciding with the publication of cases, Health has published a first update on the report ‘Autochthonous Cases of Monkeypox (Monkeypox/MPX) in Spain. Rapid risk assessment’, carried out by the Health Alerts and Emergencies Coordination Center, where it states that, “after more than two months of virus circulation in non-endemic countries, the cases in Spainas in the rest of the non-endemic countries, continue to be primarily identified in the context of sexual intercourse or in other situations of continued and prolonged physical contact of a non-sexual nature”.
In addition, some sporadic cases have been identified in women, minors or the elderly, close contacts of confirmed cases. However, he points out that “the probability of transmission is considered low for the general population at the present time”.
So far, most of the cases detected in Spain and the rest of the non-endemic countries related to this outbreak are mild, with a low proportion of hospital admission and mortality.
in the rest of Europeas of August 9, a total of 12,140 confirmed cases of monkeypox, with Germany (2,916), the United Kingdom (2,768), France (2,423), the Netherlands (957) and Portugal (711) being the most affected countries, in addition to Spain. Most of the cases are young men with a history of sexual relations in a risky context.
In it rest of the worlda total of a total of 13,336 cases confirmed in non-endemic countries, with the United States (8,934), Brazil (2,293), Canada (957), Peru (505) and Israel (166) being the countries with the highest number of cases.
Monkeypox is a very rare zoonotic viral disease and endemic (permanently affects a geographical area) in the Central and West African rainforest regions: Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, South Sudan and Sierra Lioness.
The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Republic of the Congo. Outside of Africa, the first cases were registered in 2003. Before the outbreak that broke out last May in the United Kingdom, isolated cases were identified in Israel, the United States or Singapore.
Is it a serious disease?
The (SEE) explains that “in the current outbreak the cases are generating a milder disease than the cases described in West Africa and hospital admissions are hardly generated.”
But the skin lesions and mucosa are very annoying. For this reason, “strict epidemiological control must be exercised to avoid extensive transmission of the virus.”
Although it does not spread easily from person to person, “it is transmitted through close contact with infected skin, body fluids, or respiratory droplets from an infected person with whom sexual intercourse occurs or in other situations of continued and prolonged physical contact.”
Is it a sexually transmitted disease?
No. The SEE highlights that the monkeypox virus has been detected in semen, but “it is unknown if it is viable in said fluid and the importance it may have for transmission. A person is contagious until their lesions have healed and a new layer of skin has formed.
What measures should infected people take?
He establishes that people infected with Monkeypox should isolate themselves “until the skin lesions have disappeared” and it is recommended that they “be covered.” A surgical mask should be used “especially in those who present respiratory symptoms. If this is not feasible (for example, an infected child), it is recommended that the rest of the cohabitants wear a mask ”.
Do not leave the home, except when medical attention is needed. In this case, a mask must be worn at all times and public transport must be avoided. To these measures must be added “adequate hand hygiene after contact with infected people (wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer).”
What are your symptoms?
It is important to know that in most cases there are no complications. And also that people vaccinated against normal smallpox, that is, at least everyone over 50 years of age, are also protected against monkeypox.
The symptoms (usually last 2-4 weeks) are similar to the flu and include the typical muscle aches, fever, chills, exhaustion, headache, back pain, swollen lymph nodes… Now also as lesions on the penis or pain rectal.
“In the current outbreak, the most characteristic symptoms are rash with characteristic skin lesions in the anogenital or perineal region, fever, and inguinal adenopathies,” says the Spanish Society of Epidemiology.
And, of course, the typical rash so characteristic of smallpox, which in this case usually begins on the face to spread to other areas of the body, especially the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
Most often, the rash begins when the fever begins to rise.
And as in smallpox, the rash Monkeypox begins as flat, red spots, which then turn into blisters that fill with pus, forming pustules. After several days, the pustules crust over.
And the itching can cause so much itching that the patient himself ends up picking off the scabs, which then leaves scars.
Is vaccination against monkeypox effective?
The SEE clarifies that “smallpox vaccines are effective in protecting against monkeypox.” However, “at present, vaccination is not recommended for the general population for monkeypox, since the risk is considered low”.
- Persons under 45 years of age who engage in high-risk sexual practices.
- Health personnel in specialized STI/HIV care clinics that care for people with high-risk practices and laboratory personnel who handle samples potentially contaminated with Monkeypox virus.