Residents who have taken a smallpox vaccine are protected from the monkeypox virus by about 85 percent, health experts based in the United Arab Emirates have told Al Arabiya English.
Dr. Gunjan Mahajan, special clinical pathologist at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi, said that human monkeypox infections are rare outside Central and Western Africa where the virus is endemic in animals and “circulates in heavily forested areas.”
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“But as cases with no known travel links to Africa emerge in several countries, it became a concerning issue.”
Dr. Amaka Kate Uzu, family medicine consultant at Bareen International Hospital in Abu Dhabi, echoed Dr Mahajan’s sentiment.
“Since the monkeypox virus is closely associated with the virus that causes smallpox, the smallpox vaccine can also protect individuals from monkeypox,” said the doctor.
Monkeypox is a zoonotic virus – meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans – and comes from a family of viruses which includes the now-eradicated smallpox virus.
In the past, vaccines and drugs were developed to treat and eliminate smallpox, and have been known to provide some protection against the monkeypox virus.
This has become a particularly concerning over the past month, as more cases began to emerge across the world.
Monkeypox was first identified in humans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, most cases were reported in rural, heavily forested areas in Congo Basin. The first monkeypox outbreak outside of Africa was identified in the US in 2003 and was linked to pet prairie dogs which were housed with Gambian pouched rats and dormice that were imported from Ghana.
The virus’ symptoms are very similar to those seen in smallpox patients in the past and can include skin eruption, fever, swelling of lymph nodes, or lack of energy, lesions, pustules, or vesicles forming on the skin.
Who’s at risk?
Dr Mahajan told Al Arabiya English that children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people were at a higher risk of a monkeypox infection, and, when asked about the virus’ potential to turn into a pandemic, said that it was highly unlikely, especially when compared to COVID-19.
“The objective of addressing monkey pox cases is to raise awareness, inform preparedness, and provide guidance for immediate actions like contact tracing, treatment and prevention,” he added.
Dr Uzu added: “According to WHO, monkeypox outbreak is unlikely to lead into a pandemic. However, further investigations about this health condition are still ongoing.”
She added that any quick-transmitting virus needs to be “checked and controlled at the beginning” of the outbreak.
“The UAE is taking all the necessary precautions in order to make sure these health cases are checked, controlled, and monitored well,” she added.
After three cases of the virus were recorded in the UAE earlier this week, the Dubai Health Authority released a circular on Monday, outlining that health professionals and facilities are required to notify the authority of any suspected or confirmed monkeypox cases.
How is monkeypox transmitted?
“Monkeypox is initially spread to a person through an infected animal in an endemic area, which could occur through a bite or scratch or any contact with the animal’s body or lesion fluids,” said Dr Mahajan.
“Among humans, once infected and symptomatic, they can pass the virus on to others through close physical contact,” he added. “Also, the rash, scabs and fluids from the skin lesions are especially infectious, therefore contaminated clothing or bedding can also spread the virus. Monkeypox virus is not as contagious as COVID-19 and requires extended close contact to transmit the disease.”
The fatality rate of monkeypox has historically ranged from zero to 11 percent, but has proven to be much higher in young children, according to WHO. However, the fatality ratio has changed in recent years to around three to six percent.
The DHA advises people to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer, avoid contact with wild animals (dead or alive), cook meat properly, avoid contact with any objects that have been in contact with a sick animal, avoid contact with any person with a rash or any object that has been in contact with a sick person.
The incubation period of the virus usually ranges from seven to 14 days, but can extend to 21 days, the UAE’s health ministry said on Monday.
Uzu said studies are still ongoing in terms of monkeypox infection modes and risks. “Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease, hence contact with infected animals like rodents, squirrels, or primates can cause human infections.
“The virus enters the body through broken skin even if it is not visible, the respiratory tract, or mucous membranes. Monkeypox does not spread easily among humans.”
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