Hopkins - Monkeypox

One event succeeds another. COVID-19 is not over yet, monkeypox is spreading again in Europe. According to the Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong, monkeypox is a zoonosis caused by monkeypox virus. Humans could get infected when a person comes into contact with the virus from infected animals, infected humans or contaminated materials. The first few days after infection with monkeypox are characterised by fever, intense headache, myalgia and lymphadenopathy.Lesions in mouth and body appear about 1 to 3 days after onset of fever. The lesions progress from maculopapules to vesicles, pustules and followed by crusts within a period of 10 days to two weeks. Monkeypox is usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting from 14 to 21 days. The case fatality in previous monkeypox outbreaks has been between 1% and 10%. There is currently no registered specific vaccine or antiviral pharmaceutical product for monkeypox available in Hong Kong. It has been shown that smallpox vaccine may also be effective in preventing monkeypox. To reduce the risk of infection, members of the public travelling to places affected by monkeypox virus should avoid close physical contact with sick persons or animals. As well as seek medical advice promptly for any suspicious symptoms.