Here you will find important information on these topics:
- What are the symptoms?
- How can I prevent?
- What do I do if I suspect something?
- What do I do following confirmed infection?
- How do I get a vaccination?
There are currently worldwide and also in Austria
an outbreak of the disease monkeypox.
If you have complaints
then please contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Or call the health hotline 1450.
This is especially true following contact with people
who may have the monkeypox virus.
Danger:
Monkeypox is a reportable disease.
This means:
If a doctor diagnoses the disease,
he or she must notify the health authority of it
inform.
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox is caused by the monkeypox virus.
In English, the disease is called monkeypox.
It’s roughly pronounced like this: mankipocks.
The abbreviation for this is MPX.
How is monkeypox transmitted?
There are different possibilities:
Through direct contact with the rash, blisters, or pustules of sick people. For example at
- Kiss
- Embrace
- Cuddling
- Sex
Through contact with used objects, for example:
- towels
- bedding
- dress
- dishes
- sex toy
Through droplet infection, for example
- during longer conversations with little distance
- when coughing or sneezing
In close contact with sick people
the likelihood of transmission and contagion high.
This is especially true for sexual contact.
The contents of the blisters are very contagious.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
At the beginning, general illness symptoms appear.
This can be 5 to 21 days following contact
be with a sick person.
Typical signs are:
- Fever, chills, exhaustion
- Pain: in the head, in the back, in the muscles
- Swollen lymph nodes
Skin changes appear following 1 to 3 days:
Danger:
Until all crusts fall off
and healing of all skin changes one is contagious.
This usually takes 3 to 4 weeks.
How dangerous is monkeypox?
Symptoms usually go away following a few weeks
away by itself.
In exceptional cases, the disease can be severe.
It can also be fatal.
Severe symptoms are:
- Additional skin infections
- lung infection
- Eye inflammation with permanent eye damage
These groups of people have an increased risk
for a severe course of monkeypox:
- Newborns and children under 12 years old
- pregnant women
- people over 80 years of age
- people with immunodeficiency
How can I prevent monkeypox?
- Pay very close attention to hygiene.
For example hand washing. - Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Do not use objects
used by the sick person - Avoid frequently changing sexual contacts
and sexual contact with people you do not know.
Danger:
Condoms do not offer enough protection for sexual contacts!
Close skin contact is enough for transmission of the virus.
What do I do if I suspect monkeypox?
Go through this checklist:
Do one or more of the following apply to me?
- Do I have any complaints?
- Have I been in close contact with a person
in which monkeypox was detected? - Have I had many close contacts in the past 21 days?
− Also sexual contacts?
− Mainly to strangers? - Have I been to a place where monkeypox occurs?
If this is true:
- Be sure to avoid further contact
and practice good hygiene. - Contact your doctor or nurse
or call the health hotline 1450. - Let the doctor clarify the illness
− Be sure to call in advance!
I was in contact with a person who had monkeypox.
What should I do?
- Be sure to avoid close contact with others.
− This applies in particular to contacts with risk groups. - Pay special attention to hygiene.
- Call the health hotline 1450.
Have important information ready for the interview:
− your complaints,
− whether you have been vaccinated once morest smallpox,
− Your last contact with a sick person. - As an officially registered contact person, you can
get vaccinated even following contact.
Vaccination should be as early as possible following contact:
Preferably within 4 days. After 14 days at the latest.
− For more information, contact the local health authority,
for example a public health officer. - In case of complaints: Contact your doctor.
What do I do if I have confirmed monkeypox?
You will remain until all skin changes have healed
officially separated.
That means you have to be in quarantine
and must not have contact with other people.
- The healing of the skin changes must be done medically
be examined and confirmed. - Until then, avoid any kind of physical contact
with other people. - If you live with several people in one household:
Stay in your own room.
If possible, use your own toilet and bathroom. - Do not share household items with other people.
This applies in particular to towels, bedding or cutlery.
Report to the health authority
Know the names of your contacts.
- These are people
with whom you have had close contact in the last 21 days. - These people can be vaccinated following contact.
Get Medical Assistance:
- If your health deteriorates,
contact the health hotline 1450
or your doctor.
What do I do following the official isolation ends?
Thoroughly clean and disinfect the used living quarters.
Protect yourself during sexual contacts
and use condoms for another 8 weeks.
How do I get a monkeypox vaccine?
Currently there is in Austria
little monkeypox vaccine.
The following people can be vaccinated:
Preventive vaccination:
- For health workers with a high risk of infection.
- Also for people with personal risk behavior.
These are people with frequently changing sexual contacts,
especially men with same-sex partners.
Vaccination following contact:
Have you been in contact with someone who has monkeypox?
Then you can also get vaccinated following the contact.
- Preferably within 4 days
no later than 14 days following contact. - This is especially true for people
with personal risk behavior.
These are people with frequently changing sexual contacts,
especially men with same-sex partners.
Where can I get vaccinated?
- The vaccination is arranged by the health authorities.
- If you are a contact or a person at risk,
contact your responsible health authority,
for example a public health officer.
Where can I get tested?
- If you suspect monkeypox infection, you should
go to your doctor quickly.
You can get tested there.
− Be sure to register by phone!
See also: What do I do if I suspect monkeypox?
Where can I find more information regarding monkeypox?
You can find more information at these links:
There are some words in this text
written with a colon
For example patients.
as means: This means all people.
men, women and people,
who feel neither like a man nor a woman.
Translation into easy language: capito Vienna
Last updated: September 27, 2022
