Monkeypox: Malaysians Fear Another Pandemic, Health DG Says No Need To Panic
Monkeypox is usually a mild viral illness, with symptoms including fever and a distinctive bumpy rash.
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The risk of the monkeypox virus spreading to Malaysia is low unless an individual has a history of contact with infected animals or direct contact with patients.
Director-General of Health, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, said the possibility of human-to-human transmission of the virus is limited.
He said an infection of orthopoxviruses causes monkeypox. The virus is transmitted to humans through bites or direct contact with animal blood or body fluids and wounds of infected animals.
The virus can also be spread through respiratory droplets.
The monkey smallpox virus can also be transmitted through direct contact with fluids from maculopapular rashes on an infected person’s body or with objects contaminated with the virus, such as bedding or clothing.
Health DG Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah on how a person get monkeypox.
Monkeypox comes from the same family of eradicated smallpox which is closely associated with animals. It’s unusual to see the outbreak clusters. Nonetheless it’s being closely monitored.
— Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) May 20, 2022
He added that the incubation period is usually between six to 21 days and one will experience symptoms for two to four weeks.
The Health Ministry had also issued a comprehensive statement on the matter.
Kenyataan Media KPK 21 Mei 2022 – Wabak Monkeypox Di Beberapa Negara Benua Eropah, Amerika Syarikat, Kanada Dan Australia https://t.co/KCh3IP5823
— Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) May 21, 2022
Less Contagious Than Covid-19, But Cases Continue To Spread
Previously, the media reported an outbreak of smallpox in several European countries.
The list includes the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, France, Italy and Germany, and the United States, Canada and Australia.
Rising cases are suspected to be linked to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
US rushes to buy 13 million doses of Monkeypox vaccines as possible case detected in New York https://t.co/eQ00uHoBTl
— CryptoMatters (@_cryptomatters) May 21, 2022
As of Friday, more than 100 cases were reported, either confirmed or suspected.
Most cases of infection do not report a history of travel to countries known to be endemic to the disease.
READ MORE: What You Need To Know About Monkeypox And Is There A Vaccine?
Preliminary reports stated that some cases were infected through direct contact with smallpox patients.
The global spread of monkeypox outside Africa is causing alarm among Malaysians.
There are fears it would infect people like the coronavirus epidemic has.
The federation of Malaysia, which includes Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak, should start preparing and do screening about monkeypox disease coming from passengers from Europe. We don’t want the thing with COVID happened again #monkeypox
— Xeronexo (@xeronexo) May 21, 2022
We don’t have much time left.This monkeypox is the last call to for all that is living in this earth to repent and come back to the creator which is our LORD JESUS CHRIST .Nothing can save us now only the precious blood of our LORD. pic.twitter.com/YxM8oCmvgL
— Malaysia Sofia 🇲🇾 (@Sofiachin8) May 20, 2022
@DGHisham Sir, should Malaysia be concerned?https://t.co/vv4tEUj324
— SLWR (@twitlisten) May 20, 2022
Monkeypox https://t.co/YOSKuheeQP
— Future Malaysia by Naem (@naimabdmalek) May 20, 2022
Is There A Vaccine For Monkeypox?
An approved vaccine for monkeypox—MVA-BN—is not widely available.
Tecovirimat (TPOXX), as both oral and IV medication, is approved in the U.S. for treating smallpox and oral form in Europe to treat cowpox, monkeypox, and smallpox.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also approved brincidofovir (Tembexa) in 2021 to treat smallpox.
Because the monkeypox virus is closely related to the virus that causes smallpox, the smallpox vaccine can protect people from getting monkeypox.
Past data from Africa suggests that the smallpox vaccine is at least 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.
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