As many as 67 confirmed cases, of which four in Italy, among nine European Union countries, infections that rise above 90 units if countries outside Europe are also included. The spread of monkeypox begins to worry WHO, which evaluates the raising of the emergency level. Meanwhile, a meeting of the EU health security committee is scheduled for today. As explained by the European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, the Health Emergency Response and Preparation Authority (Hera), the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Ecdc) and the European Medicines Agency (Ema ) are working to tackle this virus and ensure the availability of vaccines and treatments. Concern, yes, but no alarmism. The World Health Organization has assured that “it is possible to contain the transmission of cases of monkeypox in countries where the disease is not endemic”. Obviously, this is a virus about which we still know very little: only the analysis of the genetic sequence will allow experts to understand whether or not there has been a mutation.
Monkey pox: symptoms and disease duration
But what are the most common symptoms? As the ECDC reports, monkeypox manifests itself more mildly in humans than smallpox. It starts with fever, headache and body aches. How to distinguish monkeypox from smallpox? The main difference between the symptoms concerning the recent infections is related to the enlargement of the lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy), which does not happen in the “classic” disease. The incubation period is usually 7-14 days, but can be as long as 21.
Here are the main symptoms of monkeypox highlighted by the ECDC
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Backache
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Chills
In addition, within the first three days after the onset of fever, the patient develops a rash, which often begins on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body. The severity of the lesions progresses with the passage of time, until it reaches the state of pustules and finally scabs. The disease typically lasts between two and four weeks, and kills one in ten patients in Africa.
WHO: “It can be contained, mild symptoms”
The surveillance continues but, as specified by epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove, an expert at the World Health Organization, which deals with emerging diseases and zoonoses and is Technical lead for Covid-19, “this virus is not Covid. So far, too. if I do not have the exact numbers, we are talking about less than 200 confirmed and suspected cases. It is a contained situation, particularly in “non-endemic” countries where we are witnessing these outbreaks, in Europe and North America. But we cannot deter the look at what is happening in Africa and in the endemic countries “. Meanwhile, Andrea Ammon, director of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), published a first risk assessment of the disease: “Most of the current cases of monkeypox in Europe presented with symptoms of the disease. mild and, for the wider population, the likelihood of spread is very low. However, the likelihood of further spread of the virus through close contact, such as during sexual activities between people with multiple partners, is considered to be high. “
New cases in France and Morocco
As anticipated at the beginning of the article, in Italy there are four cases of monkeypox, the last one diagnosed in Arezzo, and another 15 people are under observation, while over 190 cases have been ascertained in recent weeks in 16 European countries. , United States, Canada and Australia. In the last hours, three new cases have been registered in France, as explained in a note released by the National Public Health Agency: “To date these cases have occurred mainly, but not exclusively, in people who have had sexual relations but without direct contact. with others returning from endemic areas “. The first case was identified in the Ile-de-France region on 19 May last. Meanwhile, the first three cases of monkeypox have also been identified in Morocco. According to the Moroccan Ministry of Health “patients in good health and under medical supervision”. Another suspected case was reported in Slovenia and concerns a man returned from the Canary Islands, currently hospitalized with mild symptoms.