LATEST SITUATION: HOW IS MONKEY POX DISEASE TRANSMITTED?

Reading time is 4 mins

.
.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MONKEY POX? HOW IS MONKEY POX DISEASE TRANSMITTED?

The monkey pox disease, which has appeared in dozens of countries in recent weeks, continues its danger. Symptoms between monkey pox include fever, weakness, muscle pain, skin rashes, and enlarged lymph nodes. Human transmission of monkey pox occurs with large droplets of respiratory secretions, while animal-to-human bites, scratching, and animal blood and body fluids.

The monkey pox virus, which is usually seen in Africa but has recently spread to European countries along with the United States, Canada, Australia and has caused concern, has been detected in 30 countries. Turkey is not among these countries. Although the disease usually passes with mild symptoms, in some cases it can be fatal, which can cause panic in citizens.

.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MONKEY POX?

Clinically, the disease is manifested by fever, weakness, widespread muscle pain, skin rashes and enlarged lymph nodes. it is a DNA virus from the same family as the smallpox virus, which was eliminated worldwide by vaccination in 1980. The rashes of the monkey pox and the chickenpox virus are similar to each other, but their location on the body, the course of the disease are different from each other. The smallpox virus has not been seen for many years thanks to the vaccine. Swelling of the lymph nodes in the monkey pox virus distinguishes this disease from others. The incubation period, that is, the period of onset of symptoms after transmission, is 7-14 days..
.

The rash, on the other hand, begins 1-3 days after the onset of fever. Rashes appear on the face, arms and legs, not far from the trunk. Lesions begin as a flat rash (macula), become puffy from the skin (papule); then they fill up with clear liquid and take on the appearance of a “vesicle”.

.
The clear liquid inside the vesicles turns into a liquid of yellowish color, and “pustules” are formed. With the fall of pustules, crusts and crusts, the lesions disappear. This process usually takes 2-4 weeks and heals on its own.

The monkey pox virus has some symptoms that occur in different parts of the body. muscle the first detected symptoms, high fever, headache, back pain, muscle and swelling stand out.

As the fever increases, a rash and itching begin to form on the body. This usually starts on the face and then reaches other points of the body. It occurs widely, mainly on the palms and soles of the feet. Itching can be extremely uncomfortable or painful. On the other hand, after this itching process has passed, the wounds on the soles of the feet and palms become crusted and pass.

.
HAS MONKEY POX BEEN SEEN IN TURKEY?

The monkey pox virus has so far been officially spotted in nine European countries, as well as the US, Canada and Australia. The European countries where this disease, which is normally found in remote corners of Central and West Africa, was observed were the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Sweden.

.
WHAT IS MONKEY POX?

It is a rare disease that comes from the same family of viruses as monkey pox disease. The virus was first discovered in colonies of research monkeys in 1958, according to the CDC.

The first case of the virus in humans was detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970. Most monkey pox infections still occur there today, but the disease has also been reported in several other central and west African countries, the CDC said.

.
HOW IS THE MONKEY POX VIRUS TRANSMITTED?

It is transmitted from an infected animal to humans by bite, scratching, contact with the blood and body fluids of the animal or its flesh, direct contact with lesions, or contact with inanimate material contaminated with all this. Human transmission occurs by large droplets of respiratory secretions. Since large droplets cannot travel far distances, long-term and close contact is required for human transmission. This is a feature that can prevent it from making large outbreaks similar to Covid-19. Although it is not certain that the transmission is by close contact and droplets, it is also believed that there is also sexual transmission. It has been reported that some of the recent cases have been transmitted this way.

WHO officials also explained how the disease, the largest outbreak outside Africa in the last 50 years, was transmitted. “Transmission is really transmitted by skin-to-skin contact,” said, World Health Organization director in charge of the spreading diseases unit. So far, those infected with the disease are getting over it a little,” was said.

.
HOW DEADLY?

According to statements made by scientists in the past, the monkey pox virus looks like smallpox and is usually mild. The disease can completely pass on its own within a few weeks, but in some cases it can pass very heavily. There are records of this disease causing death in West Africa.

.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR MONKEY POX?

In order to prevent any epidemic, vaccination is an important step. It is also known that vaccines developed against smallpox provide 85 percent protection against monkey pox.

On the other hand, antiviral drugs were also reported to have an effect.

.
DOES IT LEAD TO AN EPIDEMIC?

It’s an advantage that the monkey pox virus shows symptoms. Since patients will be isolated when symptoms appear, it is predicted that they will not be able to have major outbreaks such as Covid-19.

.
.
.
.

Follow me
President of Organ Transplant Center at MedicalPark Hospital Antalya

Turkey's world-renowned organ transplant specialist. Dr. Demirbaş has 104 international publications and 102 national publications.

Physician's Resume:

Born on August 7, 1963 in Çorum, Prof. Dr. Alper Demirbaş has been continuing his work as the President of MedicalPark Antalya Hospital Organ Transplantation Center since 2008.

Prof. who performed the first tissue incompatible kidney transplant in Turkey, the first blood type incompatible kidney transplant, the first kidney-pancreas transplant program and the first cadaveric donor and live donor liver transplant in Antalya. Dr. As of August 2016, Alper Demirbaş has performed 4900 kidney transplants, 500 liver transplants and 95 pancreas transplants.

In addition to being the chairman of 6 national congresses, he has also been an invited speaker at 12 international and 65 national scientific congresses. Dr. Alper Demirbaş was married and the father of 1 girl and 1 boy.

Awards:

Eczacibasi Medical Award of 2002, Akdeniz University Service Award of 2005, Izder Medical Man of the Year Award of 2006, BÖHAK Medical Man of the Year Award of 2007, Sabah Mediterranean Newspaper Scientist of the Year Award of 2007, ANTIKAD Scientist of the Year Award of 2009, Social Ethics Association Award of 2010, Işık University Medical Man of the Year Award of 2015, VTV Antalya's Brand Value Award of 2015.

Certificates:

Doctor of Medicine Degree Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Ankara, General Surgeon Ministry of Health Turkey EKFMG (0-477-343-8), University of Miami School of Medicine Member of Multiple Organ Transplant, ASTS Multiorgan Transplant Scholarship. Lecturer at Kyoto University. Lecturer at University of Essen, Research assistant at the University of Cambridge .

Professional Members:

American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Transplantation Society Nominated, Middle East and Southern Africa Council Transplantation Society 2007, International Liver Transplantation Association, Turkish Transplantation Association, Turkish Society of Surgery, Turkish Hepatobiliary Surgery Association.

Disclaimer:

Our website contents consist of articles approved by our Web and Medical Editorial Board with the contributions of our physicians. Our contents are prepared only for informational purposes for public benefit. Be sure to consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Medically Reviewed by Professor Doctor Alper Demirbaş
Follow me