Attention those over 44: The vaccine detail for Mpox

Prof. Dr. Güner made an assessment regarding the monkeypox virus, which emerged in Africa and is referred to as 'M-pox' or 'Mpox'.

'THE FIRST HUMAN CASE DATES BACK TO THE 1970S'

According to the report in DHA, Prof. Dr. Güner stated that the monkeypox virus was first identified in 1958 and said, "It was named monkeypox because it was first detected in monkeys sent to a laboratory for experimental purposes. It belongs to an old virus family, the 'pox' virus family. However, when looked at later, since it was determined that it was not only in monkeys but especially in rodents, and because the aim was to avoid directly stigmatizing a region or a species in the naming, it is now considered more appropriate to call it 'M-pox' or 'Mpox' disease. The first human case dates back to the 1970s," he said.

ATTENTION THOSE OVER 44

Prof. Dr. Rahmet Güner emphasized that great attention should be paid to hand hygiene and said, "Let us pay attention to contact precautions. Keeping a distance from people who have a history of travel, rash-like illnesses, and fever is actually sufficient for our protection. In the 2022 outbreak, unprotected and long-term sexual contact was largely at the forefront. Here, the situation seems a bit different. We have the opportunity to confirm the diagnosis of the disease with samples taken from the fluid in those rashes. With PCR diagnostic tests, it is possible for us to diagnose the disease when we send samples to the national virology laboratory and the public health reference laboratory in our country. A limited number of cases were seen in our country between 2022 and 2023. It is not possible to claim that no cases will be seen today; of course, cases can be seen, but we will take our precautions and protect ourselves. Those born before 1980 should be protected against smallpox because they have been vaccinated. Therefore, there is a cross-protection here as well; it is possible to say that those who have been vaccinated against smallpox are also largely protected against Mpox," he said.