In just over a month, the monkeypox outbreak has spread to 29 countries around the world. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1,000 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed worldwide. Among them, at least 97 cases have been confirmed in Canada, including 1 case in Bc Province.
Due to the increasing number of monkeypox cases in many countries around the world, the Government of Canada has issued a Level 2 travel warning reminding international travelers to be extra careful when traveling abroad.
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Infection abroad may delay returning home
On June 7, the Canadian government issued a secondary travel warning reminding people traveling abroad to take extra precautions.
What are Secondary Travel Health Warnings? According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), this health warning indicates an increased risk to travellers or certain groups of travellers, such as pregnant women, campers, and visiting family and friends, and reminds people to step up their precautions.
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In addition to central and west African regions, where cases are usually found, several countries internationally have reported monkeypox case clusters, the circular said. It is very unusual to find so many cases unrelated to travel to the African region. In the current outbreak, people who have had close or intimate contact with monkeypox patients are at risk of infection.
As a result, PHAC reminds people traveling abroad that measures to limit the spread of monkeypox, such as quarantine, may need to be implemented at their destination to prevent infection. Once infected with the virus and get sick, you may not have access to timely and appropriate health care measures, and you may delay your return home.
Currently, PHAC is working closely with health authorities internationally and domestically, in provincial health, to gather relevant information to further investigate possible sources of infection and limit further transmission.
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The Government of Canada's Level 2 travel warning notices for monkeypox apply to 27 countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States.
The Government of Canada recommends that all Canadians should follow these precautions:
- Use personal protective equipment (e.g. masks) to minimize monkeypox transmission;
- postpone all travel until the risk is reduced;
- Avoid high-risk activities;
- Vaccination of recommended vaccines for certain groups;
- Wash your hands at all times, especially after close contact with certain people;
- Be careful when attending mass gatherings or parties;
- Notice any new symptoms, such as a rash.
The government advises on its website: "If you experience symptoms that may be caused by monkeypox after traveling or returning, see a healthcare professional and avoid contact with others." "People who develop symptoms during the flight should tell the flight attendants or border service personnel as soon as possible, and they will notify the quarantine officers.
WHO: Some countries show signs of community transmission
At a recent media conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Tedros, director-general of the World Health Organization, said that there were more than 1,400 suspected cases of monkeypox in Africa this year, and 66 deaths. "This is the most unfortunate reflection of the world in which we live, and the international community has begun to pay attention to monkeypox because it has appeared in some high-income countries."
Photo credit: CTV news
Tedros said the outbreak showed signs of community transmission in some countries.
Photo credit: CTV news
Rosamund Lewis, WHO's head of monkeypox technology, said "close human contact" was the main way monkeypox spread, but added that the risks of aerosol transmission were not fully understood. However, health workers caring for monkeypox patients should wear masks.
It is understood that monkeypox currently has three main transmission routes:
The first: from animals to humans;
The second type: transmission from person to person. The main modes of transmission are: contact with infected people; skin lesions or crusting (which may resemble chickenpox); Blood or body fluids; Mucosal surfaces (eg, eyes, mouth, throat, rectum); Contaminated clothing or sheets, such as bedding and towels, or sharing personal belongings with an infected person; Respiratory droplets (e.g., coughing and sneezing) may transmit the monkeypox virus.
The third: direct contact with contaminated objects.
According to Canada's Federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), monkeypox viruses are transmitted primarily through close contact with infected people, animals, or objects. It can enter the human body through body fluids, pus, blood, etc., in contact with skin lesions, respiratory tract, eyes, mouth and nose.
The initial symptoms of monkeypox can be manifested as: fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, difficulty swallowing and lymphadenopathy, cold war, exhaustion, blisters on the body, etc. To some extent, symptoms such as fever and headache are somewhat similar to the current epidemic of the new crown virus, and it is easy to be confused in the early stages of the disease.
Furthermore, the incubation period of monkeypox virus is relatively long, and symptoms can begin to appear 5 to 21 days after exposure to monkeypox virus.
Therefore, in terms of prevention, ordinary residents and people around them should maintain a safe distance, wash their hands frequently, and insist on wearing masks in crowded environments. In fact, these precautions look very similar to the measures to prevent COVID-19
News Source:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/more-than-1-000-monkeypox-cases-in-29-countries-reported-to-who-1.5937892
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/monkeypox-level-two-travel-health-notice
https://www.traveloffpath.com/canada-issues-new-travel-advisory-due-to-monkeypox/