Facial masks played a key role in preventing the spread of coronavirus. In many countries, wearing them was mandatory and is still a common practice around the world.
Now, there is another virus that appears in the headlines: the smallpox of the monkey.
Smallpox is a rare viral infection, usually found only in parts of West and Central Africa. In recent weeks, however, more than 1,000 cases have been reported in 29 countries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For most people, the virus is not dangerous; most recover completely. However, as the world emerges from the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, discussions are circulating about how best to prevent its spread.
A stock photo shows a rash of monkeypox and a woman wearing a mask. There are indications that the virus can be transmitted through the air, which means that the masks could prevent its spread. iStock / Getty Images
Monkeypox and coronavirus are very different, and most media coverage about monkeypox is only concentrated through direct contact, although it requires further research, there are indications that it is transmitted through sex and other close contacts.
However, the CDC has recently updated its virus guidelines, including recommendations for people to wear masks. This presents a question that has not yet been widely touched upon: can the monkey’s smallpox also be transmitted in the air? And if so, can using masks prevent it from spreading?
How airborne is it?
Airborne transmission occurs when a virus travels through the air, in the form of small respiratory drops caused by coughing or sneezing.
Most cases of smallpox can be traced back to a patient who has direct and close contact with an infected person or animal. However, in some circumstances this has not been the case, ie the transmission must have been overhead.
In a 2017 study during an outbreak in Nigeria, scientists found that two health workers had become infected with the virus while in contact with the patients they were treating. In such cases, it is likely that the masks may have prevented transmission.
Since the latest outbreak, scientists have stressed that not enough is known about the virus to determine exactly how it is transmitted. Although it appears that it can be airborne, scientists believe that it still cannot be kept at great distances.
A stock photograph shows a man wearing a mask. The CDC has updated its guidelines on smallpox and masks. sibway / Getty
Should I wear a mask?
The CDC has recently updated its mask and smallpox guidelines. He posted an update advising travelers to wear a mask to protect themselves in countries where monkeypox has been detected. However, the New York Times reported that he later removed the guide, stating that it “caused confusion.”
However, the CDC still advises people infected with monkeypox to wear a surgical mask, “especially those with respiratory symptoms” such as cough, sore throat, or difficulty breathing.
The CDC also advises that if this is “not feasible,” other members of the household should wear a mask to protect themselves. At this stage, he also advises health care workers to protect themselves with a mask.
The New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene also issued a statement last month stating that “masks can protect against monkeypox as well as other viruses circulating” in the city, and advises the people who take them to most public settings.
So far, however, there have been no recommendations for the general public to wear a mask specifically to prevent the spread of smallpox smallpox. Most mask guidelines remain in place due to COVID-19, which spreads through the air much more easily.
Updated 6/6/22 6:29 AM ET: This article has been updated to include an image.