Dr. Socorro Escalante, Acting WHO Representative in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

Reporter: Could you please tell us what are thecauses of the monkeypox and how it affects humans?

Dr. Socorro Escalante:꧂ Monkeypoxis a viral zoonotic disease, meaning that it is transmitted from infectedanimals to humans.

Monkeypoxcan spread to people when they come into physical contact with an infectedanimal. Monkeypox is commonly found in central and west Africa where there aretropical rainforests and where animals that may carry the virus typicallylive. 

𝄹 Human-to-humantransmission can occur via face-to-face exposure, direct physical contact,including sexual contact, or contact with contaminated materials such asclothing or bedding.

Theillness begins like many acute viral diseases, with fever (>38.5°C),headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, extreme fatigue. After 1to 3 days, the patient develops a rash, which often begins on the face, thenspreads to other parts of the body.

𒆙 Therashes then develop into lesions. Lesions can be flat or slightly raised,filled with clear or yellowish fluid, and can then crust, dry up and fall off. Symptomstypically last between 2 to 4 weeks and go away on their own without treatment.

Reporter: According to theWHO, monkeypox cases thus far have no travel history to endemicareas. So, is this the first sign showing that the cases could pop up inthe future?

Dr. Socorro Escalante: Thisis the first time that cases are being reported in different countries thatdon’t have normally the disease, at the same time with no link to travel fromendemic countries.

Thefactors contributing to transmission in non-endemic countries need to beunderstood.  The priority now is to stoptransmission.

Assurveillance expands and as international travel reopens, we expect to havemore cases reported.

Reporter: Similar to SARS-CoV-2, monkeypoxvirus is transmitted between people through close contact with skin lesions ordroplets of an infected person, or contact of infected bodily fluids orcontaminated objects... Could you please give your opinion on whether therewill be a risk of a monkeypox outbreak in Asia?

Dr. Socorro Escalante: Monkeypoxand COVID-19 spread in different contexts and in different manner.

Peoplewith monkeypox are infectious while they have symptoms (normally for betweentwo and four weeks). One can catch monkeypox through close physical contactwith someone who has symptoms, through rashes, bodily fluids (such as fluid,pus or blood from skin lesions, saliva) and scabs. Clothing, bedding, towels orobjects like eating utensils/dishes that have been contaminated with the virusfrom contact with an infected person can also infect others.

Onthe other hand, SARS-CoV2 is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets.

Therisk of a widespread monkeypox outbreak in Asia is low, based on what wecurrently know about the virus and its mode of transmission. There is no evidence to suggest thatmonkeypox could spread like coronaviruses. However, we are doing everything tosupport the government strengthen their public health systems to detect,prevent the spread and contain the disease.

Reporter: Could you give your comments on theeffectiveness of smallpox vaccines against monkeypox? Ifthe monkeypox epidemic breaks out, is there any possibility thatsupply of monkeypox vaccine would fall into difficulty and scarcity?

Dr. Socorro Escalante: Vaccinationagainst smallpox has been shown to be protective against monkeypox. A newvaccine against smallpox and monkeypox has been approved but is not yet widelyavailable outside of national stockpiles.

WHOcontinues to support the development of global mechanisms to ensure equitableaccess to countermeasures (vaccine, therapeutics, diagnostics) based on publichealth needs.

Reporter: What do you recommend Asiancountries, including Vietnam, should do to preventor minimise monkeypox infections and deaths?

Dr. Socorro Escalante: WHOrecommends for countries to:

First, intensify surveillance and strengthen preparedness for investigation and contact tracing. Be on alert in detecting cases, for signals related to patients presenting with unusual vesicular or pustular rash, often associated with fever, in a range of community and health care settings, including but not limited to primary care, fever clinics, sexual health services, and dermatology clinics.

Second, raise public awareness. If one has symptoms that could be monkeypox or has had contact with someone who has suspected or confirmed monkeypox, he/she should seek advice from a health care provider.

Travelersshould be encouraged to report illness during travel or upon return to a healthprofessional, including information about all recent travel and immunisationhistory.

Residentsand travelers to endemic countries should be advised to avoid contact with sickanimals (dead or alive) that could harbour monkeypox virus (rodents,marsupials, primates) and should refrain from eating or handling wild game(bush meat).

𝄹 Third, protect healthcare workers and prevent transmission in healthcare settings. Health workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed monkeypox should receive recommendations to implement standard, contact and droplet infection control precautions.

Reporter: Thank you very much!