The ECDC says the overall risk of monkeypox is assessed as moderate to high “for people with multiple sexual partners and low for the general population”.
A local medical officer at North Bay Health Department Parry Sound insists on calm when it comes to the outbreak of monkeypox, which has reached Canada.
Outbreaks of monkeypox in several countries – a rare disease that comes from the same family of viruses that cause smallpox – have been active since early May.
As of Wednesday, a total of 219 confirmed cases have been reported worldwide. Most of the cases are found in young men who identify themselves as men who have sex with men (MSM). Of these, 118 confirmed cases from 12 EU / EEA Member States.
According to Dr. Michael Head, Senior Global Health Research Fellow at the University of Southampton (UK), “Monkeypox, as the name suggests, was first discovered in laboratory monkeys in the late 1950s. However, scientists aren’t sure if monkeys are the main reservoirs for animals (carriers of the virus), so the name may be a bit misleading. The latest thinking is that the main reservoir is probably smaller animals, such as rodents. “
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) notes that this is the first time that monkeypox transmission chains have been reported in Europe without known epidemiological links to West or Central Africa.
There are 16 confirmed cases in Canada, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, all in Quebec.
Although the risk of smallpox is low, almost everyone in Canada is susceptible because routine smallpox vaccination ended decades ago, “PHAC officials said late last week in this CP report, which said that Canada is considering using a smallpox vaccine reserve for cases of monkeypox.
“Let’s look at the risk and put it in perspective,” Dr. Jim Chirico said after a meeting of the health council on Wednesday. “The overall risk to the general public is very, very low.”
“Monkeypox (MPX) does not spread easily among humans. Human-to-human transmission occurs through close contact with infectious material from skin lesions to an infected person, through respiratory droplets from prolonged face-to-face contact, and through fomites (such as contaminated clothing, towels, or furniture). “The predominance in the current outbreak of diagnosed cases of MPX in humans is among men who have sex with men (MSM), and the nature of the lesions in some cases suggests transmission during sexual intercourse,” according to an ECDC risk assessment.
The virus is spread through close contact between people, especially in the same household, including sexually, ECDC advises. Based on his epidemiological assessment, “the likelihood of the spread of MPX in people with multiple sexual partners in the EU / EEA is considered high”.
Knowing the signs and symptoms is the most important part, says Chirico, “but most cases are very mild and other than treatment of the symptoms usually requires nothing and most people don’t get to the hospital. It’s limited. In two to four weeks, everything is over.”
The monkeypox virus can cause severe illness in certain groups of the population, such as young children, pregnant women and immunosuppressed people.
“Although most cases of the current outbreaks have had mild symptoms of the disease,” notes the ECDC’s risk assessment, “the likelihood of severe morbidity cannot yet be accurately estimated. The overall risk is assessed as moderate for people with multiple sexual partners (including some MSM groups) and low for the general population. “
Chiriko advised locals to be aware of the signs and symptoms of monkeypox. Initially, they are similar to the flu, in which you may have headaches, fever, chills, muscle aches, perhaps back pain and fatigue. You may also experience sweating and other important things to note are lumps and swellings, such as swollen lymph nodes. “
About one to three days after the onset of symptoms, a rash may appear – and it may appear on the face and go to the rest of the body. In about 75 percent of cases, it will be on the hands and feet, he said.
Personal assessment of the risk of monkeypox infection is also important, says Dr. Chirico. “Sexual contact, possible exposure to a person diagnosed with monkeypox or a person who is symptomatic and awaits laboratory confirmation.
“If you have signs and symptoms of monkeypox, isolate yourself immediately and arrange for you to be tested by your primary care provider. And stay in isolation until the result of your test is known. If you test positive for monkeypox, you should isolate until the lesions go away, which means that the scabs have fallen off and there is new skin.
“If you are in contact with a person with monkeypox, you can observe the symptoms for 21 days and seek medical help or testing if symptoms are present, but you do not need to quarantine if you do not have any symptoms such as contact. “
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