Reporter Zhong Zhipeng/Taipei reports
▲ Monkeypox is on the rise, and Dr. Zhong Yaoren warned “Don’t exchange body fluids indiscriminately”. (Photo/Retrieved from the US CDC, pixabay)
Monkeypox is menacing, and the most terrifying part of it is that the limbs, body and even the face will blister, that is, the appearance will be broken. Zhong Yaoren, a physician from the medical department of Yadong Hospital, gave a special warning when interviewed by Sanli News. The vast majority of monkeypox infections come from intimate or sexual exchange of bodily fluids with mucous membranes, so avoid multiple sexual partners during this impending outbreak of monkeypox. And once the infection has healed, it must wait for the blisters to scab, which is suffering in the good process.
▲ Monkeypox is on the rise, and Dr. Zhong Yaoren warned “Don’t exchange body fluids indiscriminately”. (Photo / Associated Press / Dazhi Image)
The current accelerated mutation and staggering speed of monkeypox must not be taken lightly
Dr. Zhong Yaoren said that due to the slowdown of the new crown epidemic recently, the border will be lifted soon, and the number of Chinese people or tourists coming to Taiwan from monkeypox-affected areas such as Europe and the United States has increased. Look, the public must not take it lightly. In addition to good personal hygiene and disinfection, there is one more thing that is very important, because most monkeypox infections “come from the exchange of body fluids and mucous membranes from intimate behaviors or sexual behaviors”, so in this period of monkeys. During the period when the pox epidemic may be about to break out, it is necessary to avoid multiple sexual partners and close contact with strangers.
▲ Monkeypox is on the rise, and Dr. Zhong Yaoren warned “Don’t exchange body fluids indiscriminately”. (Picture / Retrieved from WHO webpage who.int)
Blisters on face and limbs In case of infection, wear long-sleeved masks and hats to cover
Dr. Zhong Yaoren emphasized that some people may have more signs of skin disease (disruption) due to their constitution or virus type. In case of unfortunate monkeypox infection, it is recommended to keep calm, receive treatment, and avoid contact with people until the skin scabs fall off.
At present, the infection is blistering, and the patient must undergo negative pressure isolation. If you are worried that your body scars will affect your appearance after the isolation, you can wear long-sleeved clothes, masks and hats to pass this period. After recovery, you can also seek the assistance of a dermatologist, so that the pigmentation and scars will gradually subside, and you must maintain a positive attitude. Be patient, don’t be too scared, everything will heal over time.
▲ Monkeypox is on the rise, and Dr. Zhong Yaoren warned “Don’t exchange body fluids indiscriminately”. (Photo / Retrieved from WHO website who.int, photographer Zhong Zhipeng)
Is monkeypox related to monkeys?Understand the spread, treatment and prevention of monkeypox at a time
Dr. Zhong Yaoren made a complete analysis of monkeypox based on the information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health and Welfaretransmission, treatment and prevention of…..
1.What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox virus was first discovered in monkeys for research as early as 1958, so it was named monkeypox (Monkeypox virus). , the fatality rate is as high as 1% to 10%.
The first cases of monkeypox occurred in the United States in 2003 and also outside Africa.
From September 2018 to May 2022, sporadic cases have been reported in the United Kingdom, Israel, and Singapore. However, since mid-May this year (2022), a large number of cases began to break out in the United Kingdom and spread to Europe and the United States. Singapore and South Korea in Asia have also reported cases of immigration from abroad. Most of the current cases have a travel history to Europe or North America.
2.Monkeypox virus infection!
Monkeypox virus and variola virus belong to the family Poxviridae and Orthopoxvirus. Monkeypox is a zoonotic infectious disease that is mainly transmitted to humans by rodents (rat, rabbit, raccoon, etc.) and primates (ape, monkey, baboon, orangutan, etc.).
With the eradication of smallpox in the 1980s, monkeypox has become the most serious orthopox virus infection since the world stopped the administration of smallpox vaccine.Taiwan in 1956 to
In 1978, the whole population was vaccinated against smallpox, so people born after 1979 were not vaccinated against smallpox.
The main modes of transmission of monkeypox are divided into two modes: “zoon-infection” and “human-to-human transmission”.
“Humanity”It is mainly spread through contact with blood, body fluids, and food animals of animals.
“human-to-human transmission”The methods of infection are more diverse, including droplet infection, contact with body fluids or blood, transmission of pregnant women to the fetus through the placenta, wounds or mucous membranes contacting objects contaminated by infected persons, unsafe sex, etc. The incubation period for monkeypox ranges from 5 to 21 days, with most cases in the range of 6 to 13 days.
3.InfectWhat happens to monkeypox virus?
The clinical symptoms of monkeypox are best known as a rash on the skin, which often appears one to three days after a fever. The rash begins as a flat rash, raised rash, blisters, pustules, crusts, and sloughing. The rash varies from strain to strain and can appear on the genitals, perineum, or it can start on the face and spread to the extremities or trunk.
Other symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes (such as in the armpits, behind the ears, neck, groin, etc.), fatigue, and more. The course of the disease is about two to three weeks. Immunocompromised persons may be complicated by pneumonia, sepsis, etc. Mortality varies by virus strain, ranging from about 1% to 10%.
4.How is monkeypox treated?
The treatment of monkeypox is mainly based on infusion therapy, supportive therapy, and symptomatic treatment to relieve discomfort and possible complications. Most patients will eliminate the monkeypox virus through their own resistance. At present, the CDC of the Ministry of Health and Welfare is negotiating with foreign pharmaceutical companies about the import of Tecovirimat, Cidofovir and Brincidofovir and other monkeypox antiviral drugs and the intravenous immunoglobulin Vaccinia Immune Globulin Intravenous (VIGIV) against smallpox.
If you have suspected symptoms, it is recommended to go to the infectious disease department of the hospital for evaluation. If diagnosed, because monkeypox is a second-class statutory infectious disease, the doctor needs to complete the notification within 24 hours.
If you are unfortunate enough to get monkeypox, in addition to supportive therapy and symptomatic treatment, you may be very concerned about whether the symptoms of the skin will leave scars?The most important thing isDo not use to squeeze these blisters, pustules, or scratch them during the infection.Oral antipruritic pain relievers can be used to control symptoms, and topical antibiotic creams can also be considered for the skin to avoid secondary bacterial infections.
If the number of blisters and pustules is large and the symptoms are larger due to the physical constitution, it is easier to leave scars. If it is a flat scar, you can use A acid, azelaic acid or other whitening products; if the scar is partially sunken, it may take a long time to treat it with laser, skin grafting, etc. before it can be improved.
5.How can monkeypox be prevented?
First: Avoid contact with primates or rodents in monkeypox-infested areas, and also avoid raw food. After touching animals or objects, thoroughly clean your hands with alcohol or soap before touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
Second: If you have suspected monkeypox symptoms and go to the infectious disease department, you should take the initiative to inform the doctor of your travel history and contact history, so that the doctor can make a judgment.
Third: If you have been exposed to respiratory droplets, body fluids, blood, skin mucous membranes, etc. of the case after the onset of the case and before the rash symptoms scab, you need to conduct self-health monitoring for 21 days, and avoid sexual behavior or blood donation.
Fourth: Avoid close contact or unsafe sex with people who have potential risks returning to Taiwan from monkeypox endemic areas.
6.Is there a vaccine for monkeypox?
At present, Taiwan has enough first-generation smallpox vaccines to be administered to the entire population that can be used in combat readiness. However, since the first-generation vaccines are live attenuated vaccines, the viruses in the vaccines may multiply in the human body after administration. Consider using it as a massacre.
The CDC is currently negotiating with foreign pharmaceutical companies to purchase the third-generation smallpox vaccine for use by medical staff caring for monkeypox patients, inspectors testing samples of monkeypox patients, and close contacts of monkeypox patients. It is expected to arrive at the end of this year (2022). Although the third-generation smallpox vaccine is the same live attenuated vaccine as the first-generation smallpox vaccine, it will not cause the virus to multiply in the human body, but the World Health Organization does not recommend large-scale administration of this vaccine.
▲ Monkeypox is on the rise, and Dr. Zhong Yaoren warned “Don’t exchange body fluids indiscriminately”. (Photo/Retrieved from the CDC in the United States)
▲ Monkeypox is on the rise, and Dr. Zhong Yaoren warned “Don’t exchange body fluids indiscriminately”. (Photo/Provided by Dr. Zhong Yaoren)
