Mpox warning in Europe

In an online seminar organized by the ECDC, information was provided regarding the course of the mpox virus in Europe.

ECDC expert Orlando Cenciarelli stated that the general risk for the European population is currently assessed as a "very low probability" and "low impact."

Emphasizing that the risk is high for individuals who have been in contact with cases but that the disease will follow a low course, Cenciarelli noted that only individuals with underlying health conditions and weakened immune systems would experience the disease at a "moderate and/or high" level if infected.

ONLY ONE CASE IN EUROPE

Recalling that the only current case in Europe was detected in Sweden on August 15, Cenciarelli said, "It is likely that more imported cases will be seen. Therefore, it is important for European countries to be prepared to handle such imported cases and prevent secondary transmission."

VACCINATION RECOMMENDED IN NECESSARY CASES

Cenciarelli pointed out that the vaccine should only be offered to individuals who are at risk of infection, those experiencing severe illness, those traveling to regions where transmission is likely, and based on individual risk assessment.

10 DEATHS IN 2022

Marc-Alain Widdowson, the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe representative who attended the seminar, also recalled that a total of 27 thousand cases were detected in Europe in the summer of 2022, with 10 deaths recorded.

Widdowson expressed his belief that the continent can protect itself from the virus.

MPOX VIRUS

The mpox virus is transmitted from rodents such as mice and squirrels or from infected individuals. Touching skin rashes caused by the virus, using items such as clothing, bed sheets, or towels contaminated with these rashes, and contact with body fluids are among the most important causes of transmission.

Initial symptoms can appear 5 to 21 days after contracting the virus. The virus generally causes high fever, headache, back and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, chills, shivering, and blisters on the skin similar to chickenpox.

The disease, which has no specific treatment method, is treated with antiviral drugs. The majority of cases experience the disease mildly and recover within a few weeks.

The WHO changed the name of "monkeypox" to "mpox" in 2022 due to concerns over racism and discrimination.

Due to the rapid spread of a new strain (clade 1b) of the virus, which has been causing an epidemic affecting the east and south of the African continent for more than 10 years, the WHO declared mpox a "public health emergency of international concern" on August 14.

News Source: AA