Monkeypox: Health agency urges people to look out for symptoms

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Yesterday another 11 cases of monkeypox were confirmed in the UK. That brings the total number of cases confirmed to 20. In his official update, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said “most cases” of the viral infection are mild. Nonetheless, it’s important to watch out for the signs and take suitable action if you spot them.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Professor Linda Bauld listed the “visual” symptoms to spot.

In describing the symptoms, the professor struck a reassuring tone.

“I don’t think people should be alarmed.”

As the Professor noted, coming out of a pandemic, there is a better collective understanding of viruses and the epidemiology of viruses. This has led to increasing headlines about the spread of pathogens.

But monkeypox is “fundamentally different” to Covid, she said, because it presents quite differently to SARS‑CoV‑2, which is often asymptomatic, the prof pointed out.

“Although symptoms take longer to develop, people often get these pustules,” she said.

A pustule is a bulging patch of skin that’s full of a yellowish fluid called pus.

“It may start with a fever and then a rash so it’s much more visible,” said Prof Bauld.

There are many reasons to be optimistic about the current handling of monkeypox.

As Prof Bauld explained, in addition to being easy to spot, we have a vaccine which comes from the same vaccines as small pox.

The current approach to controlling its spread involves “intense contact tracing”, she said.

This could be combined with vaccinating contacts so it doesn’t spread, said Prof Spector.

Source: Read Full Article