The threshold of attention on the monkeypox gets up, especially with the summer that has actually begun. The level of risk established by the World Health Organization is “moderateBut the picture could change quickly. There Great Britainwhere the first cases on the European continent were identified, has published new ones guidelinesmore comprehensive, agreed between the four public health agencies: UK Health Security Agency (Ukhsa), Public Health Scotland (Phs), Public Health Wales (Phw) and Public Health Agency Northern Ireland (Pha).
Compared to the WHO updates of the last days of May we talked about, the most recent case count of monkeypox on a global scale it is the work of the ECDC, the European Agency for Disease Prevention and Monitoring. Excluding the endemic countries, the number stood at 557: 321 diagnosed in 17 European countries, 14 of which in Italy (11 in Lombardy). A large number of cases are in Spain (120), followed by Portugal (96), the Netherlands (26) and Germany (21). As usual, the element of greatest concern for experts is human-to-human transmission without any epidemiological link with trips abroad to the affected countries of Central or West Africa.
“The WHO European Region remains theepicenter of the monkeypox epidemic largest and geographically most widespread ever reported outside the endemic areas of West and Central Africa, he explained Hans Kluge, head of the WHO in Europe – we now have a fundamental opportunity to act quickly, together, in order to quickly investigate and control this rapidly evolving situation ”. Kluge also pulled a tie with the recent lifting of Covid-related travel restrictions. And he put it under the lens mass gatherings, concerts and events: “The potential for further transmission in Europe and elsewhere during the summer is high, the virus has already spread against the background of several mass gatherings – explained the organization – in the coming months, many of the dozens of festivals and large parties planned provide further contexts in which amplification could occur “.
The guidelines defined in the UK
Speaking of prudence, the British guidelines approved a few days ago recommend to cases of suspected or confirmed smallpox of avoid contact with other people until the typical injuries have healed and are dry the resulting crusts. The authorities also explain that it would be necessary refrain from sexual intercourse in the same period and, pending further confirmations on the transmission channels, use a condom for eight weeks after infection. If you need to travel for treatments or activities that cannot be deferred, the injuries must be covered and a mask must also be worn. As should healthcare workers who come into contact with these people: Ffp3 masks, gloves, goggles and gowns. Upstream of all this, a 21-day isolation and close contacts could be offered the vaccination. British agencies divide contacts into two types: those at medium risk for whom isolation is not foreseen if proactively monitored but who should avoid further contact with children, pregnant women or frail people; those at high risk who should, in the same way as confirmed cases, isolate themselves for 21 days.
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Source: Vanity Fair
