Understand what is already known about the disease in the country and what treatments are needed to cope with the transmission of the virus in the community
THE monkeypox it is a disease that, unexpectedly, has started to spread around the world in an unprecedented way. And in Brazil it was no different. So much so that, in recent days, the contagion has gained the status of community broadcast in the country. This means that the virus is already capable of infecting people here, without them having to travel or come into contact with people who have recently been to other countries.
In other words, the risk of contracting monkeypox in Brazil has increased. Therefore, from now on, the recommendation is that assistance to the disease be even greater, not only in everyday life, but especially in health services, where exposure to the virus tends to be greater.
Could monkeypox spawn a new pandemic?
According to Nick Phin, Deputy Director of the National Infection Service at the UK Department of Public Health, smallpox does not spread easily among people and the risk is generally low. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explain that although there is no specific treatment for the infection, the outbreaks can be controlled with medication.
Not to mention the common smallpox vaccine – a disease that was eradicated from the planet in the 1980s – which is also effective against monkeypox infection. Therefore, the risk of a possible pandemic, for now, is excluded.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), the The main symptoms of monkeypox are:
- Fever;
- Headache;
- Muscles and back pain
- swollen lymph nodes;
- Chills;
- Exhaustion;
- Skin lesions.
The latter symptom of monkeypox is also the hallmark of the disease. Something that looks like spots caused by other conditions, such as chickenpox or syphilis. These are lesions that grow to a scab and fall off. They can appear in virtually any region of the body, causing itching and pain.
Has the virus become more transmissible?
Monkeypox is not a new disease. The first human case was detected in 1970. However, it was considered a difficult to transmit infection and reached only a few countries in isolation. For this reason, the recent outbreak of the disease surprised scientists, who have already detected 47 mutations in the virus responsible for the problem, but have not yet discovered whether it has actually become more transmissible or not.
Is monkeypox life-threatening?
“According to data from the WHO (World Health Organization), lethality in Nigeria is around 3% – where the same European lineage is recorded, which is spreading to several countries. The Central African Republic lineage has a higher lethality , reaching 10%. In the current outbreak there are still no deaths in Europe, perhaps because it is at the beginning. However, we do not even know if the 3% death rate is also related to the quality of care in Nigeria. ” , explains the epidemiologist, Dr. André Ribas, specialist in epidemiology at the UNICAMP Faculty of Medicine.
Prevention
Like most infectious diseases, monkeypox can be prevented with a few simple hygiene measures, such as:
- Sanitize your hands with soap and water or alcoholic gel to avoid exposure to the virus;
- Avoid contact with infected people;
- Keep away from sick animals (dead or alive) that may harbor the virus, such as rodents, marsupials and primates;
- Wear masks and other personal protective equipment;
- Avoid using objects from contaminated people.
“Prevention measures against monkeypox involve reducing contact with people with sores or in the prodromal phase, when symptoms of the disease, such as fever and myalgia (muscle pain), begin to occur. Smallpox is not transmitted. easily as with Covid-19. It is important to differentiate one thing from another. In Covid-19 the mask is important, as transmission occurs through respiratory droplets with relative ease. In smallpox, transmission occurs, especially when there is a more intimate and prolonged contact “, concludes Dr. Ribas.
Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
