Is Monkey Pox more dangerous than Covid 19?

So what is Monkeypox Virus and what kind of disease is it? Most importantly, how contagious is it? Is it transmitted from person to person through close contact? Liv Hospital Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Assoc. Dr. Zehra Çağla Karakoç answered.

What is “Monkeypox Virus”?
“Monkeypox Virus”, a virus-borne infectious disease seen in Central and West Africa, is a virus related to the smallpox virus.

What kind of disease is “Monkeypox Virus”?
It is a disease that is found in rodents such as squirrels, rats and mice rather than monkeys, and is transmitted from them to humans. It is known that all of the cases seen outside Africa are caused by people coming from Africa or rodents imported from Africa.

How is “Monkeypox Virus” transmitted?
Virus to humans; It can be transmitted as a result of close contact with sick animals, sick people or inanimate objects contaminated with the virus (clothes, towels, sheets, etc.).

Transmission from sick animals to humans; It can occur through bite, scratching, contact with the animal’s blood and body fluids or flesh, direct contact with lesions, or indirectly through inanimate material contaminated with all these.

Human-to-human transmission is thought to occur primarily via large droplets of respiratory secretions. Since large droplets cannot travel long distances, for human-to-human transmission; Face-to-face, prolonged and close contact is required. This is a feature that can prevent major outbreaks similar to COVID-19. The virus can be transmitted directly through the skin and mucous membranes of a sick person, by direct contact with body fluids and skin lesions, or indirectly by contact with inanimate objects contaminated with them. Although sexual transmission is not certain, it is possible to be transmitted during sexual intercourse due to close contact.

What are the symptoms of “Monkeypox Virus”?
Monkeypox virus;

• Fire,
• Headache,
• Fatigue,
• Common body aches,
• It causes swelling and rashes in the lymph nodes.
• Complaints appear on average within 7-14 days after contact.
• In the first days of the disease, fever, severe headache, swollen lymph nodes, back pain and extreme weakness are observed.
• Rashes appear within 1-3 days after fever begins; It is mostly seen on the face, arms and legs.
• Monkeypox usually heals on its own within 2-4 weeks. However, severe disease can occur in immunocompromised people and young children.

Although it is not a commonly used drug for Monkeypox Virus, there are some antivirals used and there is a vaccine approved by the FDA in 2019.

Based on experiences in Africa, the World Health Organization reports that the smallpox vaccine will provide up to 85% protection against monkeypox. However, smallpox vaccination has not been administered since 1980. It has been observed that domestic transmission in Africa is less in people who have been vaccinated against smallpox and that they are protected from severe disease.

Monkeypox Virus is spread mainly through contact; It is spread through prolonged close, skin-to-skin contact with contaminated materials (e.g. clothing, bedding) of an infected person. At this point, compliance with hand hygiene is important, as in all infectious diseases. Transmission does not occur during rapid interactions between people in close proximity (for example, a brief conversation). However, close contact with people with fever and rash should be avoided and a mask should be worn.

It is important for patients with fever and rash (especially patients with a history of travel to Africa) to be examined by infectious diseases and dermatology physicians.