After the Covid-19 outbreak, this time the Monkeypox virus panic has begun. After the increase in cases in Africa, both the World Health Organization and the African Union have declared a state of emergency against the Monkeypox virus (mpox) threat. The virus, which has also caused fear all over the world, has infected 2,822 people in 13 African countries from January to August 8, while 14,719 suspected cases have been recorded. So far, 517 people have lost their lives due to the virus, 511 of whom were in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although no cases have been detected in Turkey yet, experts have expressed their concern and warned of personal precautions.
DETECTED IN 1958
Although the name of the disease is Monkeypox, the virus actually originates from rodents. The virus was identified in 1958 as a result of two different outbreaks with symptoms similar to smallpox in monkey colonies being held for research, and was therefore named monkeypox. Monkeypox, which has been seen for many years in West and Central Africa, where tropical rainforests are abundant, and is limited to this region, can rarely reach different parts of the world through contamination caused by animals exported from the region.
11 CASES REPORTED
Monkeypox virus is transmitted through face-to-face, long-term close contact, while infected animals also carry the risk of transmitting the disease. Symptoms related to the virus appear within 21 days with symptoms such as high fever, headache, back and muscle pain. The 2022 Monkeypox outbreak was first found in the United Kingdom, in a person with travel connections to Nigeria, In August 2023, the number of confirmed cases in Turkey was announced as 11.
WE MUST BE CAREFUL!
NO CASE YET
Infectious Diseases Association President Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ceyhan stated that there was a Monkeypox wave in 2022 and that WHO had issued warnings, and said, “The variant that started in September 2023 is different and more dangerous. There are no reported cases in Turkey yet, but this does not mean that the virus does not exist. He used the expressions.
Prof. Dr. Ceyhan noted that Monkeypox is a water-filled blister form of chickenpox and is seen in certain parts of the body, and underlined that planes coming from Africa and the places they stay should also take precautions.
DOES VACCINE PROTECT?
Prof. Dr. Ceyhan added that the smallpox vaccine application was terminated in Turkey after 1980; and listed the following warnings: “It is thought that the vaccine protects from the virus, but we cannot say for sure that it protects. It is not seen in people of that age, it is seen more in young people. Monkeypox is a dangerous disease. 4 percent of those infected die. The virus is more deadly in people with suppressed immune systems. “The smallpox vaccine must be included in travel vaccination programs urgently. Currently, only two companies are producing the vaccine.”
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