Would it be okay if I was in the same place or plane as a person with monkeypox?
I am preparing to leave the country due to the pandemic of Corona 19, but I am not happy with the news that monkey pox has been introduced recently.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the fatality rate of smallpox in monkeys is 3-6%, which is not negligible. The burden of leaving the country increases with the news that Corona 19 has recently spread to monkey pox.
Monkey smallpox, please be aware and deal with it.
Possibility of infection among passengers who were on the plane with the confirmed person
Monkey smallpox is transmitted through close contact with an infected person.
This includes direct contact with the blood or body fluids (saliva, urine, etc.) of an infected person through skin wounds or mucous membranes. Respiratory transmission is also possible, but it is known that air transmission through fine aerosols is not as common as COVID-19.
The government does not classify both crew members and passengers on the plane the patient was traveling as contacts.
Contacts with a slight risk (medium risk group) lined up diagonally, front and back, left and right, are judged to be contacts with very low risk (low risk group) for other contacts.
For the medium-risk group, active monitoring is carried out to monitor symptoms 1-2 times a day for 21 days corresponding to the virus incubation period, and for the low-risk group, manual monitoring is conducted for the same period.
What is monkey pox?
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with monkeypox virus, and belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus in the family poxviridae.
Monkey smallpox was first discovered in 1958 when monkeys bred for research developed a disease similar to chickenpox, hence the name "monkey smallpox."
Infection with monkey pox was first reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970 when efforts were being made to eradicate smallpox, and since then, it has been reported in Central and West African countries such as Gabon, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Congo Republic, and Cameroon. got angry
However, since May 2022, it has started to occur mainly in Europe, such as Spain, the UK, and Italy, and is an unusual occurrence in countries that are not endemic, such as the United States.
Path of Infection
Monkey smallpox is a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted through contact with animals infected with the monkey smallpox virus (rodents such as rats, squirrels, prairie dogs, and monkeys), an infected person, or a material contaminated with the virus. Vertical transmission may occur from to the fetus.
1. (droplets) Direct human-to-human transmission by droplets of infection in the nose, mouth, pharynx, mucous membranes, and alveoli
2. (Skin lesion by-product) Direct or indirect contact with blood, body fluids, skin, or mucosal lesions of infected animals or humans
3. (Vehicle) Transmission through contact with the body fluid of an infected patient or a medium (linen, clothing, etc.) with the lesion on it
4. (Air) Air transmission through micro-aerosols containing viruses is possible, but not common.
Clinical Symptoms
If you are infected with monkey smallpox, the severity of the disease can be mild to moderate, but fatal.
After infection, after an incubation period of 1 to 2 weeks, it begins with 'acute fever over 38 °C, headache, muscle pain, and fatigue', and after 1 to 3 days, rash symptoms appear centered on the face, and centrifugally especially to the extremities).
Lymph node swelling is the main symptom, and symptoms usually last 2 to 4 weeks.
- Incubation period: 5 to 21 days (average 7 to 14 days)
- Clinical symptoms: fever, headache, muscle pain, back pain, lymph node swelling, chills, fatigue, rash (within about 1-3 days after fever)
The rash progresses in stages: Macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, and scabs.
Difference between monkey smallpox and other skin diseases
Monkeypox
- Start with the head and progress to the arms and legs of the body
- Vesicular rash with well-demarcated and well-defined center
- Mostly the same stage rash
- Invasion of the hand/foot
Chickenpox (Varicella)
-Progress mainly toward the body, including the head
- Vesicular rash with unclear boundaries
- Each rash may have different stages
- Rarely involved in the hands/foot
Herpes zoster
- May appear all over the body and appear in the form of bands along the ganglion
- Localized bullous lesions
Herpes simplex
- Can invade all skin mucous membranes (eyes, lips, etc.) locally
- Occurs mainly on the lips, oropharynx, and genital area
- Can be accompanied by blisters and ulcers
Measles
- red hemispherical rash
- Face to behind the ears, then toward the center of the torso
- Can be peeled off
Method of Inspection
In order to confirm and diagnose monkey smallpox, a gene detection test using the blood of a suspected patient, the tissue of the skin lesion, the fluid of the lesion, and the scab are required.
Recent occurrence countries
○ Countries with confirmed infections (40 countries)
<Europe> UK, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Hungary, Norway, Latvia, Greece, Poland, Romania, Georgia, Iceland, Luxembourg, Serbia
<Americas> USA, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Chile
<Oceania> Australia
<Middle East> Israel, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon
<Africa> Morocco, Ghana
-> 40 countries in total (+5)
※(additional) Iceland, Luxembourg, Serbia, Chile, Lebanon (Data source: CDC)
Endemic countries
Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone total 10 countries
Lethal Rate
According to the WHO, the fatality rate of monkey smallpox in recent years is 3-6%, which is not negligible.
However, caution is required as it can progress to serious symptoms in newborns, children, and immunosuppressive drugs.
Infected persons require appropriate treatment through a medical institution.
* Fatality rate in endemic regions: about 1% in West Africa, 10% to 11% in Central Africa
Precautions for prevention
If you come into contact with a person infected with monkey pox, an infected animal (such as monkeys and rodents), or anything contaminated with the virus, you may become infected.
1. Avoid direct or indirect contact with infected (at risk of infection) people or animals.
2. Avoid contact with items used by the infected person (such as bedding such as linen).
3. If you have come into contact with a suspected person, animal or object, wash your hands with soap and water or
4. Clean with alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
5. If you are traveling to an area where monkey smallpox occurs, avoid contact with animals that may carry the virus.
(reference article: https://blog.naver.com/redcapstory/)