Monkeypox does not spread easily between humans: Infection occurs through close contact with infected skin, body fluids, or respiratory droplets from an infected person with whom you have sexual intercourse.
This is one of the answers that can be found in the guide that epidemiologists created to explain what monkeypox is, when cases first appeared or what is the most appropriate vaccination program based on the level of exposure.
,What is monkeypox? It is a virus different from smallpox and is being transmitted outside its usual endemic area (Central and West Africa), so strict epidemiological control is necessary.
,How to avoid disease? In addition to sexual contact, it can also be contracted in other situations of constant and prolonged physical contact, and also by contact with contaminated objects such as bedding, bandages, dishes … A person is considered contagious from the introduction of the enanthem. is – oral mucosal lesions – until the wounds heal and a new layer of skin is formed. For this reason, infected people should remain isolated until all skin lesions have healed, and especially avoid close contact with immunosuppressed people.
,What are the symptoms? The clinical picture usually begins with a combination of symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, characteristic skin lesions and swollen glands. Regarding its severity, epidemiologists say the cases in the current outbreak are milder than those described in West Africa, and they are barely getting hospitalized. However, remember, sores on the skin and mucous membranes are very annoying.
,What is the vaccination strategy? The smallpox vaccine (original) can protect people from monkeypox because of the similarity of the two viruses. Apart from this, antibodies made from the smallpox virus also protect against monkeypox. In Spain, the smallpox vaccine was vaccinated until 1979 and was administered at the age of 20 months. In 2013, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) authorized the Imvanex vaccine for the prevention of smallpox in adults. Currently, he is reviewing studies to increase the use of the vaccine.
,Do I have to get vaccinated? WHO recommends pre-exposure vaccination for health and laboratory personnel at high risk of disease exposure.
