Around the world, 1,500 monkeypox cases have been infected, experts are dreaded! Poor control, it could be a newer version of syphilis.
Today (14 June) Prof. Kiatkun Wasan Chantrathit Head of the Medical Genome Center Faculty of Medicine, Hospital (Hospital) Ramathibodi, along with Asst.Prof.Dr. Opas Putcharoen Head of the Emerging Clinical Center Chulalongkorn Hospital and a professor at the Department of Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and Mrs. Pilailuck Akkapaiboon Okada Head of the National Flu Center Department of Medical Sciences Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) joined to provide information about monkey pox in the forum, in-depth discussions, penetrating the issue of “small pox” and PCR testing.
Prof. Kiatkun Wasan said that for Pox, there will be people, horses, cows, monkeys, and insects, so it is not the same disease as Smallpox, which is an epidemic from person to person. And there is no information about the outbreak to animals. Use vaccination and human vaccination methods. Today the disease is gone. But it can happen when samples are released from two laboratories (labs) namely the United States and Russia.
“For monkeypox (Monkeypox), when genetically deciphered Found that species 1, 2 and 3. Species 1 and 2 have been in existence for a long time since 1971 in Africa. After 1978, there were outbreaks in foreign countries such as Nigeria. There is an epidemic in the Americas, which is found in 2 simultaneous outbreaks, namely B.1 and A.2, which have differences in the genetic code. Therefore, the observation that chickenpox is currently an old disease will apply knowledge. may not be correct because there is already a mutation It may be like an emerging disease, so the PCR test kit tested in 1978 may not detect the virus in 2022. Therefore, the old test kit has to be used to test for the virus that is currently epidemic,” said Prof. Kiatkun Wasan.
Prof. Kiatkun Wasan said that for monkey pox It is a contagious disease from animals to humans. In 1971, Nigeria Found the child infected and spread from person to person. Causes 500 patients. The rash is mainly on the face. easily noticeable but was not helped to control the disease It later spread to England, Israel, Singapore, and then it was undetectable. Come to be caught again in Europe at the reunion of men and women
“But there is concern. The rash was found in the shade, so the patient often went to the venereal doctor. because they did not know that it was the monkey pox that was born in the shade or genitals However, the current screening definition must be changed accordingly. The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) asks for cooperation in venereal disease clinics. to screen for infection as well Another thing that must be emphasized is The smallpox is contagious. Even having sex with condoms can be infected. Because it is not a sexually transmitted disease that wearing a condom can prevent secretions. The UK advises those at risk to observe symptoms for two to four weeks, as it now appears to be a newer version of Syphilis if there is an uncontrolled outbreak. or become endemic because if there is no other rash will not be able to filter when someone enters the country As for the PCR test cost at a clinic or private hospital, the average cost is 1,500 baht,” said Prof. Kiatkun Wasan, and said. In the worst way is The mutation is a sexually transmitted disease.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Opas said The World Health Organization also classifies monkey pox as a contagious disease that requires surveillance. Currently, the number of cases is increasing, accumulating 1,500 worldwide, not increasing as fast as COVID-19. because it is not easy to attach and stick to a specific group hoping to expedite management
Asst. Prof. Dr. Opas said Monkey pox is endemic to Africa. which is a viral disease Symptoms will depend on the stage of infection. The first phase is asymptomatic, it takes 1-3 weeks to incubate, and then it is a fever stage. After 3-4 days, there will be a rash spreading all over the body. Smallpox-like rash but less severe The rash will have different stages. Initially, the rash appears around the lips, body, and then becomes blisters, blisters, and pustules. similar to the blisters of chicken pox Then the scab begins to scab. This is when the fever starts and the rash starts to spread. The severity depends on the person. If you are healthy and have no underlying disease The blisters are few and disappear on their own. At the same time, if a child is immunocompromised, there is a chance that the infection spreads a lot. The blister is severe. Compared to the number of blisters that occur, if more than 100 blisters are present, it is considered severe until death. But the mortality rate is 3-4 percent, and if there is a preventive vaccine, it can reduce the mortality rate. The observation for smallpox monkey pox may also be enlarged lymph nodes.
“Monkey pox is not as scary as smallpox. but have to watch Because it is a new infection, the symptoms are not yet clear. Makes me not know that the case is increasing Most of the outbreaks did not show any symptoms of fever. But there will be a rash at all and strange to be found in the genitals that can be sexually transmitted even if it is not a sexually transmitted disease There are currently no cases of monkey pox in Thailand, so people in Thailand who experience symptoms such as a rash go to get tested for herpes, syphilis or other viruses. If you can’t find it, let’s suspect it and check for smallpox,” said Asst. Prof. Dr. Opas.
while Mrs. Pilailuck said Laboratory examination of the Department of Medical Sciences A PCR method for mutation has been prepared that the applied primers can still detect today’s smallpox monkey pox. for the detection period In the beginning, the infection will enter the bloodstream, so the blood test is possible, but it is a very short period. Therefore, it is recommended that during the suspected period and the rash has not yet emerged. A sample can be taken from the throat cavity. respiratory system But the most accurate distance is during the rash This will pass after at least two weeks of exposure. However, the virus naturally mutates to adapt to the nature of what the virus inhabits, so it must be monitored to see if it is as severe as COVID-19. Communicable diseases to watch out for Thailand has a good level of response to the public health system from the Covid-19 response. Screening checkpoints have been set up at airports in countries with infected people. A lab is prepared for immediate infection testing.