Portugal has reported five cases of monkeypox this Wednesday (18). In addition, other European countries are already on alert for the disease.
Monkeypox cases were reported in European countries in 2022 Photo: Disclosure/WHO/Center for Disease Control Nigeria/ND
According to the R7 portal, the United Kingdom has also recorded seven cases since the beginning of May. As well as Spain, where 23 are under investigation.
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which is genetically similar to the smallpox virus but generally causes a milder illness, according to the MSD Manual of Diagnosis and Treatment.
According to the medical guide itself, despite the name, nonhuman primates are not a reservoir of the smallpox virus. Although the reservoir is unknown, the main candidates are small rodents such as squirrels in the rainforests of Africa, especially in West and Central Africa.
Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo and Nigeria all reported cases in 2016, the last country with a major outbreak.
The United States also had an outbreak in 2003, identifying rodents imported from Africa as pets as carriers of the virus in dogs, which passed to humans. At that time, 35 cases were reported in six states.
stream
The virus is transmitted to humans through physiological secretions of animals, but humantohuman transmission is more difficult. Nevertheless, it is assumed that it is possible if there is prolonged direct and personal contact.
The cases investigated in Spain point to “contact with liquids”, according to a spokesman for the Regional Health Office of Madrid.
“In general, monkeypox is transmitted by respiration, but the characteristics of the eight suspected cases suggest contact with liquids. The eight suspected cases in Madrid involve men who have sex with men. They are fine, but this disease may require hospital treatment.”
In Portugal, according to the General Directorate of Health, these are young men with ulcerative skin lesions.
Monkeypox cases identified in the UK began on May 6th. Among them were four people who identified themselves as “homosexual, bisexual or men who have sex with other men,” according to the UK Health Authority.
symptoms and treatment
According to the WHO (Municipal Health Organization), the incubation period of the virus varies between six and 13 days and can last up to three weeks.
Symptoms are similar to smallpox, with blisters on the skin being the most characteristic, but also fever, chills, fatigue and muscle aches.
According to the statement, the symptoms can be mild or severe, and the lesions can be very itchy or painful. They may also have enlarged lymph nodes (small structures that act as filters for pollutants) and a high risk of secondary bacterial infection of the skin and lungs.
“There is no safe, proven treatment for monkeypox virus infection,” the MSD manual warns, and the symptoms usually go away on their own.
Nevertheless, some drugs can be used, for example the antivirals tecovirimat, cidofovir and brincidofovir.
The UK Health Safety Agency also notes that the traditional smallpox vaccine “can be used both before and after exposure and is up to 85% effective in preventing smallpox”.
“People who were vaccinated against smallpox in childhood may have a milder disease,” the agency adds.
Situation in SC
Wanted by the ND+Dive/SC (Diretoria de Vigilância Epidemiológica de Santa Catarina) stated that the state has no suspected or monitored cases of monkeypox.
*With information from Portal R7