Rome, May 18, 2022 – Dozens of suspected or confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported in Spain e Portugala few days after those registered in Great Britain. And the authorities of Madrid and Lisbon have triggered the national health alert. Infection is rare in Europe, so theWorld Health Organization (WHO), with the collaboration of London, is investigating the first cases found in the United Kingdom. For now there is no news of infected in Italia.
What is it and how is it recognized?
I symptoms most common of the disease, caused by a virus belonging to the orthopoxvirus family, are feverheadache, body aches, back pain, swollen lymph glands, chills, fatigue, as well as skin rashes on the face and other parts of the body, similar to those of other exempt diseases. The incubation period it is 6-13 days, but it can vary from 5 to 21 days. Monkeypox can kill up to one in ten infected patients, but it does not spread easily among people. He comes transmitted through drops of saliva in the breath during prolonged face-to-face or through contact body fluids. There is no cure, but it is generally a disease that if self-resolvingmost of those who develop it recover within a few weeks.
The first case of monkeypox in a human was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was later detected in numerous countries of central and western Africa. The virus has become endemic in Nigeria and Congo. In 2003 the disease was detected in the United States, with an outbreak following the importation of rodents from Africa, while the first cases in the United Kingdom date back to 2018, with three people infected after the return of a man from Nigeria.
Cases in the UK
From 6 May in all seven cases were identified in the United Kingdom. Except for the very first case – the sick patient had recently traveled to Nigeria – the others were all infected at home. For now everyone is all men, mainly homosexuals or bisexuals with occasional relationships, causing fear of transmission within the community. All seven tested positive for the West African virus strain, which is believed to be milder than others.
Alert in Spain and Portugal
In Portugal there are more than 20 suspected cases e 5 confirmed, all in the Lisbon region. In Spain i suspicious cases I am 8 and the outcome of the analyzes is awaited for confirmation. The Spanish and Portuguese authorities have decreed the national health alert, but have ensured that it is a rare disease, not very contagious among humans. According to the newspaper The countrysimilarly to what happened in the United Kingdom, all suspected cases in Spain are also male.
WHO recommendations
WHO “does not recommend any restrictions for travel and trade with Nigeria or the UK based on information available at this time, “reads a note.” In the present case, the source of the infection is currently unknown and the risk cannot be excluded of further transmission in Nigeria, “reiterates the organization. Imports of monkeypox from an endemic country have been documented on 8 previous occasions.” Any disease while traveling or returning from an endemic area must be reported to a health worker “, invites the WHO, which also stresses” the importance of hand hygiene. “Health workers who care for patients with monkeypox must comply with standard precautions for the control of contact and droplet infections. Timely contact tracing “is crucial”, finally points out the agency.