China News Service, September 16. According to the website of the Chongqing Health and Health Commission, on September 16, Chongqing confirmed a case of imported monkeypox. During the centralized quarantine for epidemic prevention and control, rashes and other symptoms were found. After the laboratory test of the Chongqing CDC and the review of the China CDC, the laboratory results showed that the monkeypox virus nucleic acid was positive, and the national organization experts diagnosed it as a confirmed case of monkeypox.

The case is undergoing centralized isolation and treatment in a designated hospital and is in stable condition, and all its close contacts have implemented isolation medical observation measures.

At present, the nucleic acid test of the new coronavirus in this case is negative.

　　The Chongqing Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government attach great importance to the disposal of monkeypox cases, and immediately direct and arrange deployment.

The Municipal Health and Health Commission took active actions and responded quickly, carried out in-depth epidemiological investigations, and strengthened related work such as follow-up investigations, nucleic acid testing, medical treatment, and comprehensive sterilization.

According to experts' judgment, the case was quarantined and controlled immediately after entering Chongqing, and there was no social activity trajectory, and the risk of epidemic transmission was low.

Six questions and six answers about monkeypox science knowledge

　　1. What is monkeypox

　　Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by monkeypox virus infection. The clinical manifestations are mainly fever, rash, and lymphadenopathy. It is usually a self-limiting disease, but some patients may develop complications, including skin lesions. Secondary bacterial infection, encephalitis, etc.

The symptoms of this outbreak were mild, and the number of rashes was small and atypical.

　　The transmission route of monkeypox

　　Monkeypox is mainly infected through contact with respiratory secretions, lesion exudates, blood, and other body fluids of infected animals, or by bites and scratches by infected animals.

　　It is mainly transmitted between people through close contact, and can also be transmitted through droplets during long-term close contact. Contact with virus-contaminated items may also be infected.

The virus can also be transmitted from a pregnant woman to the fetus through the placenta.

Since May 2022, monkeypox outbreaks in non-endemic countries have been dominated by men who have sex with men (about 96%), with sexual contact as the main mode of transmission.

　　The prevalence of monkeypox

　　Since the first human monkeypox case was confirmed in Congo (DRC) in 1970, monkeypox outbreaks have occurred mainly in Central and West African countries.

There are few monkeypox outbreaks in countries outside Africa, all of which are caused by imports from African countries (animals or humans), and local transmission is limited.

　　Since May 2022, monkeypox has been continuously spreading for the first time in non-endemic countries such as Europe and the Americas. As of September 14, a total of 59,147 confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported in 103 countries/regions around the world.

So far, 3 cases have been reported in Taiwan Province of my country, 1 case has been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and 1 case has been reported in the Mainland, all of which are imported cases.

　　Is there a cure for monkeypox?

　　Monkeypox is a self-limiting disease with a good prognosis in most cases.

At present, there is no specific anti-monkeypox virus drug in China.

Treatment is mainly symptomatic supportive care and treatment of complications.

In most cases, monkeypox symptoms disappear on their own within 2-4 weeks, but in special populations such as immunocompromised individuals, it may lead to clinical complications and even death.

　　5. Is there a monkeypox vaccine?

　　At present, there is no special monkeypox vaccine in my country, but the smallpox vaccine can play an 85% immune protection effect against monkeypox.

Currently, the World Health Organization does not recommend mass vaccination against monkeypox due to the low risk of infection in the general population.

　　6. How an individual can prevent monkeypox

　　(1) Persons who are traveling or living in epidemic countries

　　It is necessary to pay attention to the information on the monkeypox epidemic situation in the host country.

Try to avoid contact with local rodents and primates (including sick or dead animals), and do not directly contact animal body fluids, secretions, blood, etc., and meat must be thoroughly cooked before eating.

Gloves and other appropriate protective equipment should be worn when handling sick animals or infected tissues and during slaughter.

At the same time, strengthen personal hand hygiene.

　　If you must come into contact with a monkeypox patient, you should avoid close physical contact, avoid having sex with suspected infected persons, avoid sharing household items (such as bedding, clothing, etc.), and take personal protection when taking care of or visiting patients (such as wearing disposable Latex gloves, medical protective masks, disposable isolation gowns, etc.).

Pay attention to good hand hygiene and wash your hands under running water with soap and hand sanitizer in time.

　　(2) Those who have recently returned to China and those who are about to return to China

　　Returnees from the epidemic area should take the initiative to carry out self-health monitoring within 21 days of entry. If there is a history of contact with suspicious animals, people or monkeypox cases abroad, they should take the initiative to contact the local disease control agency for consultation and reporting.

If you have symptoms such as fever and rash, you should take the initiative to seek medical attention, and inform the receiving doctor of your overseas travel history and contact history to assist in diagnosis and treatment.

In addition to paying attention to the above matters, those who are about to return to China must cooperate with the customs to take the initiative to report when entering the health declaration.

　　(3) Those who plan to go abroad in the near future

　　It is necessary to pay close attention to the monkeypox epidemic situation in the destination country, and understand the relevant knowledge of monkeypox prevention, such as avoiding contact with rodents and monkeypox patients, avoiding sharing items with patients, avoiding sex with suspected infected persons, and good personal hand hygiene. If you experience monkeypox-related symptoms such as an unexplained rash, seek medical attention immediately.