Media reporting around Monkeypox has followed a disturbing trend, mirroring the situation at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared monkeypox an emergency of international concern, and 2887 cases have now been reported in Germany according to the Robert Koch Institute (as of August 5, 2022). So there has been a significant increase in the number of cases in this country since the virus was first detected in May 2022.
Given the recent past, it is understandable that these developments may be worrying, but are they really a cause for concern?
First of all, it's important to note that monkeypox doesn't pose the same level of risk as COVID-19.
In this post, you'll get a general overview of the virus, how hospitals can keep their employees safe, and whether other companies should prepare for it.
What is monkeypox?
The rare viral disease was first detected in monkeys, which is why it has been named monkeypox virus. However, it is believed that the viruses are actually mainly found in rodents. Transmission to humans has been possible through bites, bodily fluids and consumption.
Monkeypox is triggered by the monkeypox virus Orthopoxvirus simiae (also called Monkeypox virus, MPXV) from the genus Orthopoxvirus. The virus is related to the classic human smallpox viruses (Variola, Smallpox) and the cowpox viruses.
Thanks to this relationship, the normal smallpox vaccine can protect people from getting monkeypox. However, it's still unclear how much residual protection is left for those who had the vaccine decades ago as a child. That's why it's important to take further precautions to protect yourself and others.
Who is most at risk from monkeypox?
People most at risk are those who live with or have close contact with someone who has monkeypox.
Risk groups for infection include healthcare workers, commercial sex workers, household members with whom an infected person is present, and other close contacts of active cases such as sexual partners. Pregnant women, small children and immunocompromised persons are also exposed to an increased risk of infection. These groups need special protection to prevent infection.
While the recent outbreak has seemed to have disproportionately affected people who identify themselves as gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men, it's important to emphassze that monkeypox can affect anyone who comes into close, prolonged contact with an infected (and symptomatic) person or their infected stuff. It would therefore be wrong to stigmatize anyone for the outbreak.
Can I get monkey pox while out in public?
Based on the information currently available, the risk to the general public is low. Since close contact with an infected person is necessary for you to become infected, it is very unlikely that you will contract the virus in the supermarket or shopping centre.
How does monkeypox spread?
Monkey pox requires very close, physical contact, so it usually doesn't spread too easily between humans.
Typical contact points for transmission include:
- Direct skin-to-skin contact with the affected skin (smallpox lesions, e.g. bladder contents, scabs) or body fluids
- Sexual/intimate contact, including kissing, cuddling, , and speaking closely
- Living with an infected person and sharing a bed
- Handling contaminated items in a home with an infected person (including towels, bedding, unwashed clothing, electronics, and common surfaces such as counters or light switches)
- Airway secretions from prolonged personal interactions (the type that mainly occurs when living with someone or caring for someone who has monkeypox)
- Being scratched or bitten by an infected animal or eating meat or using products from an infected animal (currently this risk applies to endemic countries in Africa)
Monkey pox is NOT spread when you walk past an infected person, such as at a grocery store.
Science is still investigating whether transmission is possible through:
- Semen, vaginal fluids, blood, amniotic fluid or breast milk
- Contact with infected individuals who have no symptoms or mild/early symptoms
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
Characteristic of monkey pox are the sometimes very painful skin changes, which develop from spot to pustule (or smallpox). In the end, they encrust and fall off. The rash usually focuses on the face, palms and soles of the feet, as well as the genitals and anus. Skin and mucosal changes can also occur in the mouth and eyes.
The skin changes usually last between two and four weeks and heal on their own without treatment. However, this can lead to scarring.
Apart from that, the disease is often initiated or accompanied by general symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle and back pain, swollen lymph nodes, shivering or fatigue. However, there are also some people who do not have these symptoms even though they are infected.
How long is someone contagious?
According to the current state of knowledge, only those who also show symptoms are contagious. The first symptoms usually appear 8 days after infection, after 12-16 days the characteristic rash follows. As a rule, the disease lasts 2-4 weeks.
How is monkey pox prevented?
There are several ways to prevent the spread of monkeypox, including:
- Always talk to your sexual partner(s) about a recent condition.
- Watch out for new or unexplained sores or rashes on your body or your partner's body, including the genitals and anus.
- Avoid close contact, including sex, with people who have symptoms such as sores or rashes.
- Avoid contact with infected animals.
- Avoid contact with contaminated materials.
- Isolation of infected individuals until their symptoms, including rash, are completely gone.
- Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) (such as mask, dress, and gloves) when caring for other people with symptoms.
- Practice good hand hygiene
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces and devices if someone in your home is infected.
- The RKI recommends vaccination for people who have been exposed to monkeypox and for people with a higher infection isiko.
Whatis being done to contain this outbreak?
Diagnosed cases are systematically recorded by the RKI. As soon as a monkey pox infection has been confirmed by laboratory diagnosis, the doctor and/or laboratory must report the case to the responsible health authority within 24 hours in accordance with the Infection Protection Act. From there, the case must be transmitted electronically to the competent state authority no later than the next working day and from there to the RKI on the next working day at the latest.
A nationwide vaccination campaign is also intended to help prevent monkeypox from spreading further.
Could this turn into a new pandemic?
According to the current state of knowledge, health care experts agree that a development towards a pandemic is very low. This is down to the availability of a vaccine, the longer incubation period (which allows vaccination to be close contacts), the low reproduction number (an infected person can transmit to about 1-2 people) and the low mutation rate.
How can healthcare workers protect themselves?
The RKI recommends standard precautions for all patients, including those with suspected or confirmed monkeypox infection, and provides additional supportive information for infection prevention and control specifically intended for healthcare facilities. Healthcare workers can further reduce risk by properly putting on and taking off personal protective equipment, practicing good hand hygiene, and following their facility's infection control practices, including standard cleaning and disinfection with hospital-grade products.
Should other companies prepare?
It's important to remember that unlike COVID-19, which has had a significant and lasting impact on many businesses, monkeypox is a rare virus that spreads through close physical contact.
However, keep in mind that other viruses, such as norovirus, spread easily on surfaces. Autumn will also return in a few weeks and when temperatures drop in the northern hemisphere, the cold and flu period begins. Continue to follow your existing disinfection protocols for frequently touched surfaces and encourage your employees to practice good hand hygiene.
