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Monkeypox outbreaks have already been recorded across the U.S., Europe, Australia and the Middle East. This has caused health experts to become concerned about the potential of the virus – addressing the public that something needs to be done so the virus will no longer spread.
The cases were recorded in countries where the virus is not endemic. This means that the carrier of the virus has already traveled and may have infected others already, unbeknownst to them. Further, the outbreak happens when new waves of COVID-19 variants have caused major economic hubs to impose another lockdown protocol to limit the spread of its new variants.
According to the data by Our World in Data, 346 cases have already been confirmed in 22 countries – marking its first community spread. The World Health Organization said that the virus spreads mainly through sex, particularly on men having sex with other men.
WHO reports that anyone can contract the virus – children, non-immunized individuals and pregnant women are at high risk for contracting this disease.
Further, WHO has discovered that smallpox vaccines are 85% effective against Monkeypox, meaning governments may no longer need to do mass vaccination to counter the virus.
However, the WHO told people to practice good hygiene and safe sex in order to stop the spread of the virus.
Protect yourself from Monkeypox
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the U.K.’s National Health Service told the public some precautions to counter the virus. Here are ways:
- Avoid coming into contact with people recently diagnosed with the virus or those who may have been infected.
- Wear a face mask if you are in close contact with someone who has symptoms.
- Use condoms and keep an eye out for symptoms if you have recently changed sexual partners.
- Avoid coming into contact with animals that could be carrying the virus. This includes sick or dead animals and particularly those with a history of infection, such as monkeys, rodents and prairie dogs.
- Practice good hand hygiene, especially after coming into contact with infected — or suspected infected —animals or humans. For instance, wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Use personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients with confirmed or suspected monkeypox infection.
- Only eat meat that has been cooked thoroughly.
Once infected, what should one do?
If one contracts the virus, a patient can feel the following initial symptoms:
- Muscle aches
Within one to five days after infection, a patient will develop rashes and lesions on the face, feet, eyes, hands, mouth, or genitals. The rashes will become bumps and then blisters which may contain whitish fluid.
If you’re diagnosed with Monkeypox, isolation should be the first move. Most people recover from the virus within 2 to 4 weeks – patients are encouraged to isolate themselves within that period.
According to U.K.’s National Health Service, the safest solution once infected is to go to a specialist hospital.
Opinions expressed by NY Weekly contributors are their own.