Monkeypox or monkeypox (Mpox) is an epidemic that has spread to many countries around the world at this time. And the World Health Organization has declared it a public health emergency of international concern at this time. For Thailand, the first monkeypox patient was found in July 2022 and the first infected patient with the clade 1 strain was found in August.
The Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, reported on the monkeypox situation. The accumulated monkeypox infection data up to September 6, 2024, indicated that there were 835 monkeypox infections, of which 814 were males, accounting for over 97 percent, and 21 were females, accounting for 2.51 percent. In addition, the most infected people were in the 30-39 age group. When divided by nationality, 749 were Thais. The province with the most infections was Bangkok, with a total of 466 people.
What causes monkeypox?
Dr. Jitfa Ruarungroj, a specialist in preventive medicine, travel and tourism medicine branch, Phramongkutklao Hospital, provided information that monkeypox is a disease caused by the Mpox virus, which is a virus in the same group as smallpox. The infection was first found in monkeys in 1958. Later, it was found that the virus can spread from animals to humans. The first case of monkeypox was found in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central Africa. Most monkeypox outbreaks occur in countries in Central and West Africa, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, and the Republic of Sierra Leone.
How is monkeypox transmitted?
“Monkeypox” is a disease found in monkeys and rodents such as mice, squirrels, and rabbits. This disease can also be transmitted from animals to humans through close contact with animals, animal carcasses, eating undercooked meat, and from person to person through close contact with patients, contact with pustules and secretions, having sex with patients, talking in close proximity for a long time, and sharing items with patients such as clothes, towels, bedding, and drinking glasses. For the outbreak since 2022, it was found that more than 90 percent of patients were in the group of men who have sex with men who were infected through sexual intercourse. Therefore, those who have more than 1 sexual partner or have sex with people they don’t know, especially the group of men who have sex with men, are considered a high-risk group for infection.
Monkeypox symptoms
“For patients infected with “monkeypox”, the virus takes 6-21 days to incubate before symptoms start to appear, starting with a fever higher than 38 degrees Celsius, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, body aches, headache in the first 3-5 days. After that, a raised red rash will start to appear on the face, arms, legs, hands, inside the mouth, torso, including the genitals or anus, which are areas that have been touched. After that, the raised red rash will turn into blisters, pustules, and break into scabs and gradually fall off. After infection, patients can recover from this disease within 2-4 weeks,” said Dr. Jitfa Ruarungroj.
How to treat monkeypox
Prof. Dr. Sasisobhin Kietburanakul, infectious disease physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, revealed that currently there is still no officially approved antiviral drug for monkeypox. The drugs used are those used to treat smallpox. Current treatment focuses on treating symptoms to relieve the symptoms of those infected.
For the treatment of blisters, you can use saline solution, wound dressings containing iodine, and ointments for treating the wound. In addition, during the period when pus is flowing from the wound, you should use saline solution soaked in gauze and apply it for about 5 minutes, at least 3-5 times a day. Importantly, patients should be careful not to let the wound get dirty to prevent infection. They should not pick or scratch the wound, and when the scab falls off, they can let the scar disappear naturally, apply medication to treat dark spots and redness, and they can also use laser to reduce the scar.
Vaccination to prevent infection can be done both before and after close contact with people at risk of monkeypox. It should be injected within 4 days and no more than 14 days after exposure to help reduce the chance and severity of infection. If you are considered a risk group, such as those who have been in close contact with monkeypox patients or have traveled from countries where it is spreading, you should get vaccinated to prevent infection.
“Pre-exposure monkeypox vaccination is not necessary for everyone. It is only recommended for those at risk. If you get two doses, spaced four weeks apart, you will be 80-85% protected from the disease and will be considered immune to the virus two weeks after the second dose.
As for the question of whether it is necessary to get another monkeypox vaccination if you have been vaccinated against smallpox in the past, if you suspect that you are in a risk group, even if you have been vaccinated, you are still recommended to get vaccinated. You can register for vaccination at the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute and the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center. Therefore, we do not want the public to panic, but we should be alert, monitor, and closely follow news and information about monkeypox in order to gain the correct knowledge and understanding of the virus,” concluded Prof. Dr. Sasisobhin.