What is the profile of confirmed cases of monkeypox in the islands in 2024?
The profile of positive cases of monkeypox this year in the Balearic Islands is similar to that of 2022, when the first WHO warning was issued. It turns out that the international emergency now declared by the WHO is a little different from the one in 2022. Mpox, formerly called monkeypox, is a virus that circulates in Africa. There are different subtypes depending on the regions of Africa.
It originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 1970s. They are very used to this virus there. In 2022, there was an epidemic in Europe. Then there was talk of an international macro party in Gran Canaria that caused the virus to spread. Transmission was sexual when an infected person came into contact with an uninfected person. It was part of a big party. That’s why it spread. The number of cases increased in 2022, but then decreased.
What is the difference now with the new WHO warning?
Now the WHO says there is a new variant of the same virus and that it feels is more contagious and more serious. Monkeypox has a low mortality rate. More deaths are now being reported, mainly in and around the Congo. The number of cases has increased significantly and so have deaths. For this reason, the WHO has declared an international emergency. Sweden recorded the first case of this new variant.
Are this year’s positive cases in the Balearic Islands worrying?
The cases we had on the islands in 2024 are the cases of the 2022 outbreak because transmission did not stop but was reduced. We do not need to worry about these 11 cases in the Balearic Islands, because they are cases before the new alarm. They have nothing to do with the new international emergency declared by the WHO.
If there are more dead in the Congo, it is not a good sign…
It should be taken into account that the death rate in the Congo is not the same as in Europe, because we have a strong health system here. We have effective monitoring systems to anticipate measures and we also have multiple treatment options. The new variant appears to be more serious, but we have no evidence. What we do know is that this is a new, more contagious and probably more serious variant.
What are the symptoms?
At first, fever, headache, similar to a viral infection. Then some spots appear on the skin and finally a vesicle is formed. The nodes also become inflamed. If the contact was sexual, these macules can appear around the mouth, in the anus, in the groin or genital area, that is, near the contact area. And they can also spread throughout the body.
How does this virus spread?
Through direct contact between an infected person and another person who is not infected. This means you have to touch the other person if you touch the gallbladder or also because of fluids.
And by air?
We can’t tell by air. There are always residual routes. For example, if you have pharyngitis and you are infected and you sneeze in front of another person who is very close to you… It is mainly because of contact, close contact. For example, if you live with an infected person and share a towel, cutlery…
So it’s not a virus that affects only homosexuals…
At all. We cannot stigmatize. In the Congo, most of the infected are children and pregnant women. You can already get infected with your roommate.
Do you have to get vaccinated?
Not for the general population. Risk groups yes. Now with the new variant we have to be careful. Care must be taken with people at risk, even if we do not yet know the risk group. As a prevention, a person who has been in contact with another infected person must be vaccinated.
What measures should be taken?
Today, health workers are on alert. That the health system follows suspicious people and isolates them to avoid further contact. Our health system is ready, we have action protocols, we are ready.
And the population?
Using condoms not only against this virus but also to prevent any sexually transmitted disease. And if anyone has symptoms, go to the health center.
Should we be afraid in the Balearics?
The situation is not alarming. Now we have to be very calm and vigilant and wait to see if the new variant appears in Spain. That is the job of the health system: to be alert, to detect new cases and to use the protocols we have.
Please subscribe to continue reading
