Recently, Beijing reported two cases of monkeypox virus infection. What is monkeypox? Is it contagious? Listen to the experts interpret it for you.
【I】What is monkeypox?
【During the same period】Li Tongzeng, chief physician of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Beijing You'an Hospital
Monkeypox We mean that it is a zoonotic disease, which is caused by monkeypox virus infection. The main symptoms are fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Then this rash is most commonly found on the face and face, and then appears around the trunk, limbs and even the anus and genitals. After 2~4 weeks, these herpes gradually fall off, scab over, and may leave scars and pigmentation. These scars and pigmentation on the face may last for weeks, months, or even a year or two, and may have an impact on appearance.
【2】Is monkeypox contagious?
【During the same period】Li Tongzeng, chief physician of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Beijing You'an Hospital
Then the virus is transmitted to people mainly through close contact, including between these animals and people, it is mainly infected through broken skin or through our mucous membranes into the body.
If it is in close contact with the animal's body fluids and blood, the exudate of some wounds or the exudate of its lesion site may be infected when it touches our wounds or mucous membranes, and there are animal scratches, bites may also be infected.
In this close contact infection between people and people, mainly skin, the respiratory tract can theoretically be infected, but the contagiousness is relatively weak, and it takes a long time of close contact to be possible with respiratory infection. Possible sexual transmission, as well as mother-to-child transmission, has also been reported, but it is relatively rare.
【3】Will monkeypox be transmitted through pets?
【During the same period】Li Tongzeng, chief physician of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Beijing You'an Hospital
In nature, some wild rodents like Africa, such as squirrels, mice, and kangaroos, have been found to carry monkeypox virus, so in occasional cases, people may contact these animals to be infected, or may keep these animals as pets.
In the past, for example, in the United States, it was indeed found that because these animals from Africa, it infected these domestic pets, so the situation that led to human infection is still very rare in other countries. So so we breed these pets must choose reliable sources, we have formal ways, after inspection and quarantine.
【4】Does monkeypox have an incubation period?
【During the same period】Li Tongzeng, chief physician of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Beijing You'an Hospital
It has an incubation period, the incubation period is generally 1~2 weeks, the short may be 5 days, the long may be 3 weeks, and the general maximum is not more than 3 weeks. Generally, there are no symptoms during the incubation period, and it is not contagious, but it will also be contagious after the symptoms appear.
【5】How to prevent monkeypox?
【During the same period】Li Tongzeng, chief physician of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Beijing You'an Hospital
Usually, we have to pay attention to some screening work with some people who enter or come from these areas with monkeypox cases, and when he has a fever and rash, we must consider the possibility of monkeypox and minimize contact before it is ruled out.
Because monkeypox is mainly infected through our skin wounds or mucous membrane contact, so if we have skin wounds, we can do some protection in advance, such as we cover it with a band-aid or sterile gauze to avoid it from contacting these liquids of unknown origin.
In daily hand hygiene, do not touch our own mucous membranes such as eyes, mouth, and nose before washing hands and disinfecting hands.
Smallpox vaccine has been vaccinated before, it has a certain cross-protective effect on monkeypox, then now there are also special vaccines to prevent monkeypox and smallpox abroad.
Reporting by reporter Wen Mengxin from Beijing
Responsible Editor: [Li Ji]