There are many things we should know about monkey pox. Even if it’s a terrible disease But dealing with this disease is not as difficult as you think, of course.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Opas Puttacharoen, Head of the Emerging Clinical Center Chulalongkorn Hospital The Thai Red Cross Society said that Monkey pox is an infectious disease caused by infection with the orthopox family of viruses through exposure to secretions or by eating rodent meat. which when infected in humans will cause fever blistering rash pustules on the body Similar to smallpox, which was eradicated in 1968.
“Small Pox” with 5 things you should know, found early, can reduce the risk of spreading
- monkey pox virus can spread from person to person
The origin of the disease may be from monkeys. But infected patients can also be transmitted from person to person. through close contact with the secretions of infected people
- Monkey pox patients may have been unknowingly spreading the infection.
This is because the monkey pox virus has an incubation period of up to 21 days, and in some cases the blister rash occurs only in the oral mucosa. And up to 60% of the genitals are similar to sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes or possibly syphilis. causing patients may not know that they are ill with smallpox causing the spread of infection to others People with a history of high-risk exposure It is necessary to self-isolate for at least 3 weeks before symptoms can be identified to determine whether the patient is infected or not.
- Monkey pox can be treated with antiviral drugs.
Although it is not a standard medicine for specific diseases. But smallpox drugs can be used in humans: Tecovirimat and Cidofovir, Brincidofovir. This may have a slight side effect on the liver. and because it is an infectious disease that can heal on its own in healthy patients and relatively low mortality rates. However, the use of antiviral drugs There is still a need for some patients only. at risk of life-threatening disease such as those who take immunosuppressant drugs immunocompromised blood cancer patients
- Vaccination against monkeypox is not required at this time.
The general public does not need to be vaccinated like other epidemics such as COVID-19 because the chances of it spreading are limited. The vaccine is therefore suitable for people who have the opportunity to come into contact with the infected person, such as doctors, medical personnel, nursing staff. who have the opportunity to be exposed to this disease including family members of the patient who can be vaccinated to boost immunity after a risk
- Monkey pox can mutate like COVID-1919 is under surveillance.
Prof. Emeritus Dr. Wasan Chantrathit, Head of the Medical Genome Center Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital Mahidol University says more than 100 concurrent outbreaks of monkeypox have been reported in several countries outside Africa. The disease (which is considered endemic) in Europe, the United States and Australia comes from mutant monkeypox.
In studies over the past four years, the mutation was reported to be 1 spot per month, instead of just one per year. It is a sign of danger that must be prepared to deal with. It is believed that there is a high possibility to enter Thailand in the future.
However, if an outbreak of smallpox in humans is suspected to occur in the country in large numbers. Relevant agencies can perform a PCR “swap” of saliva, water or pus from the wound blister. The genetic material is extracted (nucleic acid purification) and sent to the Medical Genome Center. To join together to help decode the genetics.