On the 20th local time, the United Kingdom reported 11 new cases of monkeypox, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 20. On the same day, the Spanish Ministry of Health said that the National Center for Microbiology had tested positive for 23 suspected monkeypox cases, bringing the country’s cumulative monkeypox cases to 30.
At present, in addition to the United Kingdom, the United States, Portugal and Spain and other countries have successively reported confirmed cases of monkeypox, more countries including Germany, Australia, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Canada, etc. have also confirmed multiple cases of monkeypox .
Many countries have successively reported confirmed cases of monkeypox
The Institute of Microbiology of the Bundeswehr in Munich, Germany said on the 20th that a patient in the German state of Bavaria was infected with monkeypox, the first confirmed case of monkeypox in Germany.
On the 20th local time, the health department of Victoria, Australia, confirmed that a person who returned to the state from the United Kingdom was diagnosed with monkeypox virus.
According to the Italian news agency ANSA, Italy reported a confirmed case of monkeypox on the 19th.
The Swedish Public Health Agency issued a statement on the 19th, reporting a confirmed case of monkeypox.
According to Belgium’s Flemish radio and television news, Belgium reported a case of monkeypox on the 19th, and relevant parties are tracing close contacts.
On the 19th local time, the Public Health Agency of Canada issued a statement saying that Quebec has confirmed two cases of monkeypox, the first such cases confirmed by the Canadian government.
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans through close contact. The initial symptoms of monkeypox infection in humans include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, and swollen lymph nodes, which can later develop into a widespread rash on the face and body. Most infected people recover within a few weeks, but others develop severe illness.
△Mature monkeypox virus (left) and immature virus particles (right) Electron microscope images
How does the monkeypox virus spread?
The primary mode of transmission of monkeypox virus is through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, skin or mucous membrane wounds of infected animals.
The secondary transmission between humans is mainly due to close contact with the respiratory secretions of the infected person, skin damage, or items contaminated by the patient’s body fluid or diseased tissue (such as clothing, bed sheets, etc. ). Monkeypox virus can exist in respiratory droplets, but usually requires prolonged face-to-face contact to spread.
How to prevent monkeypox virus?
Because monkeypox virus and smallpox virus belong to the same virus family, the vaccine against smallpox virus also has protective effect on monkeypox virus, and the effect of vaccination against “monkeypox” is about 85%. Common household disinfectants can kill the monkeypox virus. Wearing protective equipment is recommended when caring for patients.