As cases of monkey pox infection continue to be reported overseas, there is a high possibility that a confirmed case of monkey pox will soon occur in Korea. This is because the incubation period is long and there is a high probability that an infected person will enter the country without any symptoms.
In response, quarantine authorities are reviewing the introduction of a vaccine used for monkey pox, ‘Jinneos’. Health experts also explained that introduction of a vaccine is the most urgent to contain the spread of the epidemic.
◇If asymptomatic entry during the incubation period, inflow into Korea… There are many cases of COVID-19 imported from abroad.
The quarantine authorities said they would strengthen management to block the entry of monkeypox into Korea. It is explained that the monitoring system has been strengthened, such as requesting a fever check and health status questionnaire for all travelers upon entry. However, due to the nature of infectious diseases with an incubation period, it is impossible to screen all infected patients upon entry.
Although the transmission power is different, asymptomatic infected people continue to come from overseas even in the novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19), an infectious disease. In the case of COVID-19, the incubation period is 1 to 14 days (average 4 to 5 days). According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), 32,619 out of 180,36,720 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of the 26th were imported cases. Although the percentage is small, the number of occurrences themselves is higher than expected.
The incubation period of monkeypox virus is usually 6 to 13 days, and the maximum is 21 days after infection. There is a high probability that an infected person from overseas will come in asymptomatic when entering the country. As the main symptoms, symptoms such as fever and headache begin to appear, and blistering rashes appear all over the body for 2 to 4 weeks, and then most recover.
Baek Soon-young, an emeritus professor at the Catholic University of Korea, said, “It is possible to come in asymptomatic during the incubation period after being infected. However, there is no evidence that asymptomatic people can infect others, she said.
◇Vaccine introduction urgently… Mass inoculation is rather less profitable
The government is reviewing the introduction of a vaccine in preparation for the introduction of monkeypox into Korea. There is also advice that the most important thing to contain the monkeypox epidemic is to introduce an approved vaccine.
On the 26th, Lee Hyung-min, head of the new infectious disease response division at the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, “We have stockpiled a certain amount of (pox) vaccine in Korea, but we are also considering the need to introduce the third-generation vaccine ‘Genneos’ in Korea.”
Jinneos is the American name for Imbanex, a smallpox vaccine made by Bavarian Nordic, a Danish biotech company. He is currently the only vaccine approved against monkey smallpox. This vaccine is effective in preventing infection if it is vaccinated within 4 days of contact with an infected person.
Professor Baek said, “If a confirmed case occurs in Korea, it is most important to prevent the spread. Isolation of contacts is of course important, but vaccination can prevent the spread of monkeypox even after contact. Monkey smallpox is not easily transmitted from person to person, so if it can be properly prevented, the spread to the community can be sufficiently suppressed,” he emphasized, emphasizing the importance of introducing a vaccine.
He continued, “Even after 4 days have passed, it is known that if the vaccine is administered within 14 days, it is known to have a severe preventive effect, such as blistering. In 14 days, even before being confirmed by a PCR (genetic analysis) test, clinical symptoms (such as blisters) can be sufficient to diagnose.”
As monkeypox infection occurs when it comes in contact with bodily fluids such as blisters or wounds on the skin, if the symptoms are not severe, the transmission power is lowered to that extent. This is why the introduction of a vaccine is necessary.
In fact, several countries where there are cases of monkey pox have been vaccinated or are currently reviewing the vaccine, with an incubation period of three weeks. The UK, where the number of confirmed cases is highest, said it has already provided the vaccine to some medical staff and high-risk people who have been in close contact with the infected. The US, France, Denmark and Germany are also preparing to introduce the vaccine.
However, it is unlikely that a large-scale inoculation for the entire population will be carried out like COVID-19. This is because it is difficult to vaccinate many people in a day due to the complicated vaccination method, and the transmission power is lower than that of Corona 19. Another reason is that it is difficult to vaccinate the vulnerable population.
Professor Baek said, “The risk of death is greater in children than in adults, and this vaccine can only be administered to adults 18 years of age or older. Pregnant women are also contraindicated,” he said.
“The benefit of mass inoculation is rather small. The smallpox vaccine has several side effects. Because this vaccine is a third-generation vaccine, it has fewer side effects, but it seems difficult to give general vaccination to the public with the vaccine we have in Korea.”
(Seoul = News 1)