Up to now, monkeypox remains a community focal point as the number of infections shows an upward trend and complex developments in many countries, including Vietnam. According to health experts, this is a fairly dangerous disease that can lead to numerous complications if preventive measures are not taken in a timely manner. So, what is monkeypox, what are its symptoms, and how can it be prevented? These concerns will be addressed in the following shared content.

1. What is Monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a rare acute infectious disease caused by a virus belonging to the Poxviridae family, originating from Africa. It is in the same virus family as the common chickenpox virus, resulting in several similarities in symptoms between the two diseases.

The disease has the potential to quickly transmit from animals to humans and from person to person. When infected with monkeypox, individuals typically experience symptoms such as rash, fever, and headache.

Most individuals infected with the disease recover within a few weeks, with a relatively low mortality rate (1% for the West African strain and 10% for Congo strain). However, the disease still carries a risk of severe progression and a high likelihood of mortality when individuals with the disease have prolonged exposure to the virus, especially in children and those with weakened immune systems.

2. How is Monkeypox Transmitted?

Monkeypox can be transmitted from animals to humans through close contact with body fluids (saliva or respiratory droplets) or contact with secretions from wounds on the skin. Additionally, transmission can occur through the consumption of undercooked or improperly sourced meat products from infected animals.

Human-to-human transmission of monkeypox can occur directly through contact with blood, body fluids, respiratory droplets, wounds on the skin, or mucous membranes of an infected person during prolonged exposure.

Moreover, indirect contact with objects belonging to an infected person (bedding, towels, clothes, etc.) can also lead to transmission. Therefore, living with someone suffering from monkeypox increases the risk of infection.

The disease can be transmitted from mother to fetus, leading to congenital monkeypox. Newborns in close contact with their mothers during childbirth and afterward are also at high risk of infection if the mother is affected.

3. Symptoms of Monkeypox

After being infected with the monkeypox virus, the incubation period is from 6 to 13 days, but it can range from 5 to 21 days before symptoms begin to appear. During this period, the infected person shows no symptoms and is not contagious.

• Initiation Phase: The virus invasion lasts for 5 days, with high fever (above 38.5°C), severe headaches, swollen lymph nodes, back pain, muscle aches, and overall weakness. A distinctive feature of monkeypox compared to other diseases is the presence of skin rash, while the other symptoms resemble those of chickenpox, measles, or common smallpox. The virus can be transmitted to others during this stage.
• Full Eruption Phase: Characterized by the appearance of a rash on the skin, occurring 1 to 3 days after the patient has a fever, with the following manifestations: The rash is concentrated on the face (95% of monkeypox patients develop a rash on the face), mouth, eyes, genital organs, and extremities rather than on the trunk, progressing sequentially from irritated skin (not yet showing a rash) to the emergence of elevated itchy nodules, and later fluid-filled blisters and pustules (lesions containing yellow fluid).

Clinical Forms of Monkeypox

According to medical literature, common clinical forms of this disease include:

• Asymptomatic Form: Infected individuals show no clinical symptoms.
• Mild Form: Symptoms typically resolve within 2 to 4 weeks without requiring any specific treatment.
• Severe Form: Often seen in high-risk groups (pregnant women, elderly individuals, children, individuals with underlying diseases, immunocompromised individuals, etc.) and can lead to death, typically occurring from the second week of the illness.
• Skin Infection: Patients experience prolonged fever, with blister-like lesions or ruptured fluid-filled lesions.
• Pneumonia: Symptoms include cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
• Encephalitis: Decreased consciousness, seizures, confusion, and coma.
• Blood Infection: Prolonged fever, damage to internal organs.

4. Treating Monkeypox: What’s the Right Approach?

As of now, there is no specific method or medication for treating monkeypox. However, patients should not be overly concerned, as the disease can often resolve and heal without specific treatment.

In severe cases, certain potential treatments for monkeypox may include antiviral medications such as cidofovir, the new antiviral tecovirimat, or the investigational drug brincidofovir (CMX001). These drugs have shown activity against monkeypox virus in monkeys and orthopoxvirus.

Additionally, patients may receive intravenous vaccinia immune globulin (VIG), which contains antibodies obtained from individuals previously vaccinated against monkeypox.

For those allowed to undergo home treatment according to the physician’s protocol, strict adherence to the following precautions is necessary:

• Use anti-itch cream calamine orhydrocortisone to relieve itching
• Keep the wound clean avoid infection, and use a gentle moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated
• Nutrition: drink 2 liters of water and eat easily digestible foods such as porridge, soup, vegetables, and fruits to protect your health
• Isolate sick people to prevent spreading the virus to others
• Adequate rest is key to giving your body time to recover.

The treatment of monkeypox depends on the patient’s condition and health status. Therefore, when suspecting monkeypox symptoms, individuals should promptly report to healthcare units for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, preventing the risk of transmission and the outbreak becoming an epidemic.

5. Home Preventive Measures

After a period of not detecting cases, from September 2023 until now, the country continues to record many cases of monkeypox with signs of resurgence. Therefore, people need to be cautious and proactive in preventing the disease. Some measures to reduce the risk of infection include:

• Avoid contact with animals at risk of carrying the monkeypox virus (sick animals, animals found dead in monkeypox-affected areas, suspected animals, etc.).
• Disinfect all belongings and living spaces of individuals with monkeypox.
• Consume well-cooked food and boiled water. Only eat animals with a clear origin that has been inspected.
• Avoid contact with individuals at risk of the disease. Do not touch the belongings of individuals at risk of infection.
• Isolate individuals with symptoms of or at risk of monkeypox.
• Wash hands regularly with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after contact with others.
• Receive monkeypox vaccination. While there is no specific monkeypox vaccine, getting vaccinated against smallpox can reduce the risk of monkeypox infection by up to 85%.
• Raise awareness of disease prevention. Stay informed about disease-related information.

References: vnvc.vn; vinmec.com; tamanhhospital.vn & trungtamytequan10.medinet.gov.vn

6. Health screening program administration services for business

Insmart is a leading provider of Health Screening Program Administration services in Vietnam. With the goal of ensuring the sustainability of the health of businesses and employees, we are committed to providing a comprehensive range of features to support customers before, during, and after health checkups, ensuring that customers receive attentive and thorough care throughout the service usage process.

With over 12 years of experience working with various healthcare facilities and possessing an extensive network of connections across many provinces and cities, Insmart has been delivering professional, convenient, and superior Health Management and Organization solutions. Through this service, we offer comprehensive health checkup programs, helping save manpower in health cost monitoring and synthesis, and enjoying discounted rates for high-quality medical examination and treatment services at healthcare providers. This enhances the overall experience for employees regarding the welfare regime at the company.

Companies planning to organize regular health checkup programs for employees are encouraged to contact us via email at mkt@insmart.com.vn for detailed consultation on organizing the program.

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[Marketing department – Insmart Joint Stock Company]