Kęstutis Rudaitis, the chief specialist of the Infectious Diseases Management Department of the National Public Health Center (NVSC), explained that the type 2 monkeypox virus had previously spread in Europe, and the case of the disease in Sweden was responded to more seriously, because the monkeypox type 1 infection was detected, which is characterized by a higher mortality.
“This subtype causes more severe forms of the disease and has a mortality rate of approximately 10 percent. In comparison, the mortality from subtype 2 is less than 1 percent.
As a result, we believe that both the World Health Organization and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control are reacting to the situation in a timely manner,” said K. Rudaitis in the “Question of the Day” program of “Žiniai Radio”.
Could the coronavirus scenario repeat itself?
Paulius Gradeckas, a lecturer at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, noticed that in 2022 the subsequent outbreak of monkeypox did not receive such a response, also because its route of spread was more related to homosexual intercourse between men.
“Now the virus is also spreading in the general population, and as we can see, the infection has spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to neighboring countries – Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda,” P. Gradeck said.
He emphasized that the health care system of African countries is not equal to Europe, and the concern about monkeypox is dictated by a painful historical experience – the spread of the Ebola virus in 2014. and lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If it is possible to put out a fire, it should be done where the fire is burning, despite the fact that in Europe, North or South America, Australia, Asia, we do not have that problem yet,” P. Gradeck explained.
He said that the woman infected with monkey pox had returned precisely from the epicenter of the spread of the disease – the DRC.
“I have a very positive view of Sweden’s experience, that after identifying the person very quickly, they hospitalized him. And one of the infection control measures is isolation, so that the virus is not transmitted to others,” said K. Rudaitis.
He said that monkeypox is spread through direct contact, but the virus can also be transmitted through airborne droplets.
“Because of this, there is greater attention to prevent a similar scenario from happening with the coronavirus,” K. Rudaitis explained.
He was also supported by Mr. Gradeck: “It is being observed whether the transmission path will change, which would actually be feared if that virus was transmitted by airborne droplets.”
Vaccine production is slow and complicated
Vilnius University Life Sciences Center professor Aurelija Žvirblienė emphasized that monkeypox is still called “mpox” because the first name can be misleading – the disease is not necessarily spread by monkeys, and a negative association is also created about the African continent.
According to the professor, people should not be surprised if they increasingly hear the name “mpox”, which is already widely used in foreign media.
The WHO has declared the outbreak of monkeypox in parts of Africa to be a global public health emergency. According to A. Žvirblienė, this illustrates the risk posed by the virus.
However, she emphasized that the monkeypox virus is not easily transmitted. Infection requires close physical contact or extremely close breathing.
A. Žvirblienė reminded that in 2022 During the monkeypox outbreak, vaccinations also ensured peace.
“There are not many vaccines because it is difficult to produce. Those vaccines contain a modified, weakened virus. The quantities of vaccines are not the same as in the case of covid, when billions of doses were produced very quickly”, explained A. Žvirblienė.
She added that monkeypox vaccines are not intended for the entire population, but only for those at risk.
The monkeypox vaccine is interesting in that it can be used a few days after a risky contact, since the incubation period of the virus can reach up to 3 weeks.
“After a possible infection, only the first days are suitable. After that, the virus starts replicating and later that vaccine will not protect”, emphasized A. Žvirblienė.
Experts agreed that the main advice at the moment is to avoid traveling to areas affected by the spread of monkeypox.
“People should use common sense and not travel unnecessarily to countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the virus is endemic and has spread there before.
Nobody is closing the borders, but it seems to me that it is a bad choice to travel to such a country and not avoid close contacts that can cause that infection,” said A. Žvirblienė.
2024-08-21 04:50:27