Monkey Pox: How to Avoid Infection

 By Fagbohun Oluwatobi

Photo credit: Google

Monkeypox is an infectious viral zoonotic (transmitted to humans from animals) disease that is caused by infection with the Monkeypox virus. The virus is transmitted to humans from infected animals, mostly rodents.

There is also the possibility of human-to-human transmission of the disease, especially when a person meets someone who is infected with the virus.

Monkeypox can also be contracted through contact with materials contaminated with the virus that causes the disease.

The symptoms of the disease are similar to that of smallpox infection. They include fever, skin rash (which looks like blisters), headache, backache, swollen lymph nodes (glands), chills and unusual tiredness among others.

These symptoms may last two up to three weeks, as the period of manifestation. This means that the incubation period (infection to manifestation of symptoms) is about 14 to 21 days- that is how long it takes someone to know if he/she has Monkeypox.

Recently, the Federal Government of Nigeria banned the sales and consumption of bush meats in order to prevent the spread of the Monkeypox pathogen.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) made the announcement of the ban through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development following the official confirmation of Monkeypox in Nigeria by the Centre on May 29, 2022.

Minister of Agriculture, Dr Abubakar Mohammed, issued a statement urging hunters and dealers of bush meats to stop the business, stressing that Monkeypox could be contracted through bush meat.

He said: “Hunters and dealers of ‘bush meat’ must desist from the practice to prevent any possibility of ‘spillover’ of the pathogen in Nigeria. Transport of wild animals and their products within and across borders should be suspended/restricted. Silos, stores and other agricultural storage facilities must institute active rodent control measures to prevent contact and contamination of Monkeypox virus with foodstuff”.

Dr Abubakar ordered the operators of zoos, parks, conservation and recreational centres who keep non-human primates in their domains to ensure strict compliance with biosecurity protocols in order to prevent human contact. He also advised fellow compatriots to report any pox-like lesions seen on humans or animals to the nearest human or veterinary clinics.

In a post on its website, the NCDC revealed that sexual intercourse is also a mode of transmission of the Monkeypox disease. The post by NCDC, which highlighted some symptoms of the illness, read in parts, “…After about one to three days of fever, the rash erupts, beginning on the face and then spreading to the body with the face and palms/soles being mostly affected. They can also occur in and around the genitals, which is why contact during sex is one mode of transmission”.

 

Monkeypox: photo credit - WHO

It must also be noted that when the Monkeypox virus infects persons with any underlying ailments or suffering from some diseases, it becomes deadlier in such patients as their immune systems would not be able to handle such infections.

According to the NCDC, measures that can be taken to prevent infection with the Monkeypox virus include avoiding contact with animals that could harbour the virus in areas where Monkeypox cases have occurred and avoiding contact with any material that has been in contact with a sick animal.

Others include thoroughly cooking any animal that might have encountered an infected animal; handling them with standard precautions and observing Monkeypox symptoms for 30 days and washing with soap and water after contact with infected animals.

Everyone has a role to play by personally and regularly adhering to good hygiene practices such as regular hand washing as one of the preventive measures. Others include avoiding contact with animals and persons suspected to be infected with Monkeypox and wearing masks, among others.

These preventive measures are imperative in combatting this disease because the Monkeypox virus gets into the body through the mucus membranes (nose, mouth, and eyes), respiratory tracts and damaged skin.

It is expected that governments at all levels step up their surveillance to prevent an outbreak, as there is an excellent chance of easy spread in rural areas if the dwellers are not well enlightened on the realities of this disease.

The awareness campaign should be all-encompassing, taking cognizance of all groups, classes and individuals in the society. Intensifying public awareness, especially at the grassroots would provide good knowledge on disease mitigation, control and prevention this, in turn, save lives.

Sadly, since there is no proven safe treatment for monkeypox now, it means there is also no cure. Therefore, the onus to keep safe lies individually on each of us. For the prevention of outbreaks of Monkeypox, the smallpox vaccine and antivirals can be used.

It is also important that compatriots go for medical tests when they feel symptoms of malaria because Monkeypox shares the same symptoms as malaria fever.

In order to forestall a global health crisis of the magnitude of COVID-19, the warning signs and omens of the Monkeypox outbreak must not go unheeded. Hence, the need for everyone to be on red alert!