Dr. Socorro Escalante, Acting WHO Representative in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Dr. Socorro Escalante, Acting WHO Representative in Vietnam, granted an interview to the Vietnam News Agency on the impact of monkeypox and the risk of a
monkeypox outbreak in Asia. The following is the full text of the interview.
Reporter: Could you please tell us what are the
causes of the monkeypox and how it affects humans?
Dr. Socorro Escalante: Monkeypox
is a viral zoonotic disease, meaning that it is transmitted from infected
animals to humans.
Monkeypox
can spread to people when they come into physical contact with an infected
animal. Monkeypox is commonly found in central and west Africa where there are
tropical rainforests and where animals that may carry the virus typically
live.
Human-to-human
transmission can occur via face-to-face exposure, direct physical contact,
including sexual contact, or contact with contaminated materials such as
clothing or bedding.
The
illness begins like many acute viral diseases, with fever (>38.5°C),
headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, extreme fatigue. After 1
to 3 days, the patient develops a rash, which often begins on the face, then
spreads to other parts of the body.
The
rashes then develop into lesions. Lesions can be flat or slightly raised,
filled with clear or yellowish fluid, and can then crust, dry up and fall off. Symptoms
typically last between 2 to 4 weeks and go away on their own without treatment.
Reporter: According to the
, monkeypox cases thus far have no travel history to endemic
areas. So, is this the first sign showing that the cases could pop up in
the future?
Dr. Socorro Escalante: This
is the first time that cases are being reported in different countries that
don’t have normally the disease, at the same time with no link to travel from
endemic countries.
The
factors contributing to transmission in need to be
understood. The priority now is to stop
transmission.
As
surveillance expands and as international travel reopens, we expect to have
more cases reported.
Reporter: Similar to SARS-CoV-2, monkeypox
virus is transmitted between people through close contact with skin lesions or
droplets of an infected person, or contact of infected bodily fluids or
contaminated objects… Could you please give your opinion on whether there
will be a risk of a monkeypox outbreak in Asia?
Dr. Socorro Escalante: Monkeypox
and COVID-19 spread in different contexts and in different manner.
People
with monkeypox are infectious while they have symptoms (normally for between
two and four weeks). One can catch monkeypox through close physical contact
with someone who has symptoms, through rashes, bodily fluids (such as fluid,
pus or blood from skin lesions, saliva) and scabs. Clothing, bedding, towels or
objects like eating utensils/dishes that have been contaminated with the virus
from contact with an infected person can also infect others.
On
the other hand, SARS-CoV2 is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets.
The
risk of a widespread monkeypox outbreak in Asia is low, based on what we
currently know about the virus and its mode of transmission. There is no evidence to suggest that
monkeypox could spread like coronaviruses. However, we are doing everything to
support the government strengthen their public health systems to detect,
prevent the spread and contain the disease.
Reporter: Could you give your comments on the
effectiveness of smallpox vaccines against monkeypox? If
the monkeypox epidemic breaks out, is there any possibility that
supply of monkeypox vaccine would fall into difficulty and scarcity?
Dr. Socorro Escalante: Vaccination
against smallpox has been shown to be protective against . A new
vaccine against smallpox and monkeypox has been approved but is not yet widely
available outside of national stockpiles.
WHO
continues to support the development of global mechanisms to ensure equitable
access to countermeasures (vaccine, therapeutics, diagnostics) based on public
health needs.
Reporter: What do you recommend Asian
countries, including Vietnam, should do to prevent
or minimise monkeypox infections and deaths?
: WHO
recommends for countries to:
First, intensify surveillance and strengthen preparedness for investigation and contact tracing. Be on alert in detecting cases, for signals related to patients presenting with unusual vesicular or pustular rash, often associated with fever, in a range of community and health care settings, including but not limited to primary care, fever clinics, sexual health services, and dermatology clinics.
Second, raise public awareness. If one has symptoms that could be monkeypox or has had contact with someone who has suspected or confirmed monkeypox, he/she should seek advice from a health care provider.
Travelers
should be encouraged to report illness during travel or upon return to a health
professional, including information about all recent travel and immunisation
history.
Residents
and travelers to endemic countries should be advised to avoid contact with sick
animals (dead or alive) that could harbour monkeypox virus (rodents,
marsupials, primates) and should refrain from eating or handling wild game
(bush meat).
Third, protect healthcare workers and prevent transmission in healthcare settings. Health workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed monkeypox should receive recommendations to implement standard, contact and droplet infection control precautions.
Reporter: Thank you very much!
Source: VietnamPlus
