You might have heard the term “monkeypox” floating around conversations on the internet or in real life. But you might not know what it is, or if we should be as concerned about it as we are for COVID-19—especially if it’s going to spread here in Malaysia. Luckily, there’s already some information presented by WHO and KKM.
What is monkeypox?
According to WHO, monkeypox is a “viral zoonotic disease” caused by the monkeypox virus. It can spread from animals to humans, and it can also spread between people. Monkeypox is commonly found in Central and West Africa, and its symptoms typically include a fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and a skin rash or lesions.
The rash usually begins within one to three days of the start of a fever. They can be flat or slightly raised, filled with clear or yellowish fluid, and can then crust, dry up and fall off. The rash would usually be on the face, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet, but they can also be found on the mouth, genitals, and eyes.
Monkeypox is usually a self-limited disease and the symptoms last from two to four weeks. But in some individuals, particularly newborns, children, and people with underlying immune deficiencies, it can lead to medical complications and even death. In recent times, the case fatality ratio has been around three to six percent.
Cases of monkeypox have appeared in the United Kingdom over the last month, and new cases are being reported in Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, the U.S. and Canada. This has caused alarm worldwide, but according to infectious disease experts in Singapore, the chances of widespread transmission is far lower than that of COVID-19.
How big of a concern is monkeypox?
It’s reported that since the first case of monkeypox was detected in the U.K. on 7 May from a patient who had traveled to Nigeria, there have been a total of 20 confirmed cases in the UK this month. There have also been several cases reported in various places of the U.S.
According to WHO, the monkeypox virus is typically transmitted from animals to humans, from animal hosts like rodents and monkeys. The transmission can occur from direct contact such as through blood, bodily fluids, or lesions of infected animals.
For human-to-human transmission, it can happen from close contacts with respiratory secretions like mucus, skin lesions of an infected person, or recently contaminated objects. For transmissions via respiratory particles, there usually has to be prolonged face-to-face contact. This, in turn, puts health workers, household members, and other close contacts of active cases at greater risk.
So, why is it spreading to more places now? Well, Dr Paul Tambyah, president of the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection, says that based on evidence, a significant amount of human-to-human transmission in Europe is “apparently among men who have sex with men”.
Professor Dale Fisher, senior consultant at National University Hospital, however, remarked that even though several monkeypox cases are being identified in this “male demographic”, there could be a bias. He added that sexual health clinics may be on higher alert than other settings based on the initial real-life counts.
Should Malaysia be concerned?
There has not been a reported case of monkeypox in Malaysia so far, but KKM has provided some information those who have recently traveled to countries with reported monkeypox cases. They advise that those with symptoms (including fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and a skin rash or lesions) will need to follow these instructions:
- Get help right away from a nearby health facility
- Inform a doctor about your travels
- Stay distanced from any contacts and individuals
- Self-quarantine for at least 21 days to make sure the rashes are gone
For those who are going to travel to places that have active cases, here’s what you should do:
- Keep clean by washing your hands often after going to the bathroom or if your hands are dirty
- Don’t touch the blood of the infected and anything that has been contaminated by their bodily fluid, like dirty clothes used by the infected
- Avoid touching wild animals or eating their meat
KKM has also provided a list of FAQs concerning monkeypox. They also say the risk of the spread in Malayia is “very low” due to “the limited human-to-human transmission”. But if there is any, early identification of cases “is vital for early case management including isolation and contact tracing”.
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