16,000 cases! Why did the monkeypox outbreak sound the highest level of alarm? How do we deal with these five things to be clear] WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on the 23rd that the monkeypox epidemic currently spreading in 75 countries and regions has constituted a "public health emergency of international concern". This is the highest level of alert issued by the organization in response to a global public health emergency, and it also means that both the new crown epidemic and the monkeypox epidemic are currently at this alert level.
How is monkeypox spread?
When it comes to monkeypox, when we hear it, we will think that monkeys are the main spreaders of the virus, so the name is given, but in fact monkeys are a bit innocent... The monkeypox virus can indeed be transmitted to people through many animals (including monkeys) , but it is generally believed that rodents are the main spreaders of monkeypox, and monkeys are just unfortunate enough to carry this pot.
The spread of monkeypox virus to humans is mostly caused by human contact with wild animals with the virus. In previous cases of cross-border transmission, it was often related to animal transportation. This actually reminds us that we should protect the environment, and at the same time Avoid contact with wild animals.
Similar to the infectious diseases caused by many other viruses, monkeypox virus also needs to be spread through the respiratory tract, digestive tract and contact through the blood, body fluids and secretions of animals. Such as rodents carrying monkeypox virus, other infected animals, monkeypox patients may cause transmission.
Do We need to Worry?
Certainly, researchers and disease control experts in related fields need to be cautious, pay attention to the dynamics of the monkeypox epidemic, and carry out some preventive research work, but for ordinary people, there is no need to be nervous about it, be careful not to go to the epidemic area, and keep a good Hygienic habits are enough.
Why do you say that?
First of all, the infection efficiency of monkeypox is not high. At present, according to experts' estimates, its R0 is about 1-2. Some experts believe that the R0 of monkeypox virus is even less than 1. In short, the infectiousness of monkeypox is completely different from that of Omicron. An order of magnitude, much less difficult to control.
Secondly, as mentioned above, in my country, many people, especially the middle-aged and elderly, have been vaccinated against smallpox, and the smallpox vaccine also has considerable protection against monkeypox virus. And conventional disinfection methods can also deal with the monkeypox virus. Now, in an environment where we wear masks every day and wash our hands frequently, it is not easy to cause any trouble.
In addition, it has been decades since the monkeypox virus was discovered, and there have been small-scale outbreaks one after another. This time, the monkeypox outbreak in Europe and the United States has been early warning, and the detection and diagnosis and treatment methods of monkeypox virus are also relatively Mature, not as caught off guard as when the new crown epidemic first began.
Finally, monkeypox virus is a double-stranded DNA virus. Its genetic material is relatively stable, and it is not so prone to mutation under natural conditions. Compared with the new coronavirus that has new members in three days, it can be said to be an "honest virus". Because of this, its vaccine will be less hampered to develop, and the effect will be better and longer lasting.
To sum up, although this monkeypox epidemic has seen community transmission in Europe and the United States, people do not need to worry about it at present, just avoid going to the epidemic area and maintain good hygiene habits.
