With nine cases of Monkeypox reported in India, and some with no travel history indicating they contracted it from close contact with infected people or exposure to droplets or shared personal effects, there are concerns among people. But according to the WHO, a care protocol could control the disease and promote faster recovery.
HOW CAN MONKEYPOX BE SPREAD FROM PERSON TO PERSON?
Monkeypox is spread from person to person through close contact with someone who has a rash, including face-to-face, skin-to-skin, mouth-to-mouth, or mouth-to-skin contact, including sexual contact. People are generally considered infectious until all of their lesions have scabbed over, the scabs have fallen off, and a new layer of skin has formed underneath.
The virus can also spread from a pregnant person to the fetus, after birth through skin-to-skin contact, or from a parent with Monkeypox to an infant or child through close contact.
Although asymptomatic infection has been reported, it is unclear if people without any symptoms can spread the disease or if it can be spread through other bodily fluids. Pieces of Monkeypox virus DNA have been found in semen, but it is not yet known whether the infection can be spread through semen, vaginal secretions, amniotic fluids, breast milk or blood. Research is ongoing to find out if people can spread Monkeypox by exchanging these fluids during and after a symptomatic infection.
WHAT ABOUT THE SURROUNDINGS AND FOMITES AROUND ME?
The environment can become contaminated with the Monkeypox virus, for example, when an infectious person touches clothing, bedding, towels, objects, electronic devices and surfaces. Anyone else who touches these objects can then become infected. It is also possible to become infected by breathing in skin dander or viruses from clothing, bedding or towels. This is called fomite transmission.
Ulcers, sores or sores in the mouth can be infectious, meaning the virus can be spread through direct contact with the mouth, respiratory droplets and possibly short-range aerosols. The possible airborne transmission mechanisms of Monkeypox are not yet well understood and studies are underway to find out more.
CAN MONKEYPOX BE TRANSMITTED FROM HUMANS TO ANIMALS? CAN HUMANS INFECT THEIR ANIMALS?
Although cases of people with Monkeypox infecting animals have not been documented, this is a potential risk. People who have confirmed or suspected monkeypox should avoid close contact with animals, including pets (such as cats, dogs, hamsters, gerbils, etc.), livestock, and wildlife . People with Monkeypox should be especially vigilant around animals known to be susceptible to Monkeypox virus, including rodents and nonhuman primates.
HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF AND OTHERS?
Reduce your risk of catching monkeypox by limiting close contact with people suspected or confirmed of monkeypox, or with animals that may be infected. Regularly clean and disinfect environments that may have been contaminated with the virus from a contagious person. Keep yourself informed about Monkeypox in your area and openly discuss with people you have close contact with (especially sexual contacts) about any symptoms you or they may have.
If you think you might have Monkeypox, you can take action to protect others by seeking medical advice and isolating yourself from others until you have been assessed and tested. If you have probable or confirmed monkeypox, you should isolate yourself from others until all of your lesions have scabbed over, the scabs have fallen off, and a new layer of skin has formed underneath. This will prevent you from transmitting the virus to others. Ask your health worker for advice on whether you should self-isolate at home or in a health facility. Until more is known about sexual fluid transmission, use condoms as a precaution during sexual contact for 12 weeks after your recovery.
CAN I ISOLATE AT HOME?
If you are advised to isolate yourself at home, you should not go out. Protect others you live with as much as possible by:
1) Isolation in a separate room
2) Use of a separate bathroom, or cleaning after each use
3) Clean frequently touched surfaces with soap and water and household disinfectant and avoid sweeping/vacuuming (this could disrupt virus particles and infect others)
4) Use separate utensils, towels, bedding and electronics
5) Do your own laundry (lift bedding, clothes and towels carefully without shaking them, put the materials in a plastic bag before taking them to the washing machine and wash them with hot water > 60 degrees )
6) Open windows for good ventilation
7) Encourage everyone in the house to wash their hands regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
If you can’t avoid being in the same room as someone else or having close contact with another person during home isolation, do your best to limit their risk by:
1) Avoid touching yourself
2) Wash your hands often
3) Cover your rash with clothes or bandages
4) Open windows throughout the house
5) Make sure you and anyone in the room with you wear properly fitting medical masks
6) Maintain at least one meter distance.
If you cannot do your own laundry and someone else must do it for you, they should wear a properly fitted medical mask, disposable gloves, and take the laundry precautions listed above.
People with Monkeypox should avoid scratching their skin and take care of their rash by washing their hands before and after touching lesions and keeping the skin dry and uncovered (unless they are unavoidably in a room with someone). another, in which case they should cover it with clothing or a bandage until they can isolate themselves again). The rash can be cleaned with sterilized water or an antiseptic. Salt water rinses can be used for lesions in the mouth, and warm baths with baking soda and Epsom salts can help with lesions on the body. Lidocaine can be applied to oral and perianal lesions to relieve pain.
WHAT IS THE PRESCRIBED TREATMENT?
Symptoms normally go away on their own without requiring treatment. If necessary, pain medication (analgesics) and fever medication (antipyretics) can be used to relieve certain symptoms. It is important for anyone with Monkeypox to stay hydrated, eat well, and get enough sleep. People who self-isolate should take care of their mental health by doing things they find relaxing and enjoyable, staying in touch with loved ones using technology, exercising if they feel well enough and being able to do this while self-isolating, and seeking support for their mental health issues. health if they need it.
An antiviral developed to treat smallpox (Tecovirimat) was approved in January 2022 by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of Monkeypox. Experience with these therapies in the context of a monkeypox outbreak is limited. For this reason, their use is usually accompanied by the collection of information that will improve knowledge on how best to use them in the future.
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