The end of the global pandemic is invisible. This time it’s ‘monkeypox’. Smallpox, better known as smallpox, is an infectious disease that the World Health Organization (WHO) declared to be eradicated in 1980. However, since the first outbreak in the UK 20 days ago, 273 people have been infected in 19 countries so far. In the end, the WHO predicted a continuous increase on the 27th and urged countries to strengthen their vigilance. The quarantine authorities also see the inflow into the country as a matter of time. After consulting the medical community, I summarized monkeypox.
Is it not an animal disease?
“It was first discovered in laboratory monkeys in 1958, and it was given this name because the symptoms were similar to smallpox (smallpox). The first human infection was in Congo in 1970.”
Did you come from Africa?
“In the past, it was endemic to some countries in Central and West Africa. It is unusual for it to spread to other places. The recent case is believed to have spread through close contact, such as sexual activity, because the frequency of human-to-human transmission is high and there is no history of travel to endemic areas.”
▷ What are the symptoms?
“High fever, body aches, headache, swelling, rash, etc. The rash starts on the face and spreads all over the body, including the palms and soles of the feet. Like chickenpox, blisters and pus form and itch. Most people recover within 2 to 4 weeks after infection, but it can become severe.”
▷ How are you infected?
“You can become infected by biting or coming into contact with wild animals. Human-to-human transmission occurs through patient body fluids, droplets, pus, and contaminated bedding.”
▷ What is the power of the radio wave?
“Unlike the coronavirus, the chance of infection through airborne particles is extremely low. If saliva comes in direct contact with the mucous membrane, it can become infected, but the chances are very low.”
Can it be transmitted to pets?
“Theoretically, it is possible. The European Center for Disease Control and Prevention is concerned that the situation will become serious if the monkeypox virus moves into wild ecosystems and causes spillovers.”
▷ Were there any deaths?
“There have been no deaths so far. In the West African type, with mild symptoms, the fatality rate is 1%, and in the Congo Basin type, which is likely to progress to severe, the fatality rate is 10%. The recently discovered monkey pox is a West African type.”
▷ How long is the incubation period?
“A maximum of 21 days.”
▷ How long should the quarantine be?
“Isolation is necessary until the skin blisters are gone and the scars are gone. The UK Health and Safety Agency has issued a three-week quarantine guideline.”
▷ Can children get it?
“Of course. If a pregnant woman becomes infected, the fetus and newborn can also become infected. “Children, newborns, and people with immunodeficiency can become infected with severe symptoms and an increased risk of death.”
▷ How to diagnose?
“The test is performed using a gene amplification (PCR) method using a sample or blood from a skin lesion.”
▷ Get vaccinated when entering Korea.
“Unlike the COVID-19 vaccine, which is an intramuscular injection, the smallpox vaccine is a branch-guided method that scrapes or pricks the skin ten times or more. Therefore, if the domestic epidemic is expected to increase, it is likely that the vaccination will be focused on high-risk groups, not the general public.”
▷ Are there enough vaccines in Korea?
“There are over 35 million smallpox vaccines. It also has a long shelf life.”
▷ Isn’t that the smallpox vaccine?
“Smallpox and monkeypox belong to the same family. For this reason, if you receive the smallpox vaccine, you can expect an effect of preventing monkeypox at a level of 85%. However, the smallpox vaccine is a vaccine for public health disasters such as bioterrorism.”
▷Do domestic companies also make vaccines?
“HK Innoen has entered the process to obtain a smallpox vaccine for the prevention of monkeypox. Danish company Bavirian Nordic’s Imbanex vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019.”
▷ If infected, can it be treated?
“It can be treated with antiviral drugs, a treatment for smallpox. A healthy adult can recover within a few weeks. A domestic treatment has not yet been developed.”
▷ How do we quarantine?
“There were no domestic infections. If you have any symptoms upon entry, you should report it to the quarantine officer, and if you develop suspicious symptoms such as fever, chills, or rash within 3 weeks of returning to your country, you should contact the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If the WHO declares a ‘public health crisis caused by monkeypox,’ the quarantine procedure will be more complicated than it is now.”