The arrival of monkeypox has set off alarm bells in the West, especially in Spain, which is currently the European country with the highest number of cases. In spite of this, various epidemiological surveillance agencies have tried to play down the importance of the outbreak and have declared that monkeypox is not a threat to the health of the general public, but what is it, how is it transmitted and what effects does it have on health?
Dr. Alvaro Flamarique, a specialist in Internal Medicine and an expert in infectious diseases, clarifies that monkeypox is a disease that “belongs to the same family as smallpox and, therefore, has many genetic and clinical similarities”, which means that it shares symptoms with the smallpox virus.
According to the doctor, the symptoms of the disease manifest themselves with fever, headache, chills, generalized weakness, swollen lymph nodes and joint and muscle pain.
The incubation period can vary from 5 to 21 days, so health authorities in several countries have already warned of the need to act quickly to identify any potential cases and to pay attention to the symptoms if there is any suspicion of being infected. “Between the first and third day, a skin rash appears, starting on the face and extending to the rest of the body, including hands and feet. It starts as macules (spots) and evolves into papules, vesicles, pustules and scabs”, warns the specialist.
In Spain, at least six communities register possible cases of ‘monkeypox’.
The possible causes that could shed light on the rapid increase in cases are still being studied, although for now two possible hypotheses are being considered. On the one hand, the cessation of vaccination against smallpox and, on the other, globalization, which, as occurred with COVID-19, has allowed the rapid spread of the virus worldwide.
The main mode of transmission is from wild animals to humans and, although it is not believed to be a highly contagious disease among humans, it has been concluded that it is transmitted by body fluids (mucous membranes, wounds, saliva and sexual fluids).
The World Health Organization (WHO) has already anticipated that more cases will appear in the coming days, so every precaution is too little. As of today there is no proven and safe treatment against the disease, but we can take preventive measures to curb its spread. Experts recommend following basic hygiene measures such as:
- Washing hands with soap and water.
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
They also advise following the recommendations of local authorities in case of international travel and, for those who work in hospitals, clinics or health centers, to use personal protective equipment.