A Belfast virologist has said he expects to see some cases of monkeypox in Northern Ireland “in the coming days or weeks”.
Dr Connor Bamford of the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast spoke as the total number of cases in the UK rose to 78.
There have been no confirmed cases of smallpox in Northern Ireland so far, health officials have confirmed.
Read more: What is the smallpox of the monkey? What are the symptoms? How does it spread?
In a statement on Monday, the Public Health Agency (PHA) said it was aware of cases of smallpox in England and was in regular contact with the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA). to the situation.
A Multidisciplinary Incident Management Team (IMT) has also been set up here to ensure that we are fully prepared for any potential risk to the people of Northern Ireland.
To date, England has reported 77 cases and one has been confirmed in Scotland.
No cases have been reported in Wales or Northern Ireland so far.
Although more cases are detected, the risk to the UK population remains low, the UKHSA added.
So how dangerous is monkey pox for our health? We asked Dr. Bamford some key questions.
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What do we know so far about the monkey’s smallpox and its origins?
Monkeypox virus, which causes monkeypox, can be dangerous and it is believed that between 1% and 10% of cases will be fatal.
However, in most people it is a relatively mild disease that causes painful skin lesions and flu-like symptoms, which goes away after about two weeks.
We know of two strains of the virus, which differ in their mortality, and fortunately the first evidence indicates that we are now addressing the mildest (associated with a mortality rate of 1%) in the UK.
Are there groups of people who are especially susceptible?
As with most infections, different people are more susceptible to serious illness and monkeypox is no different.
We are more concerned about the younger population and people with underlying conditions, including pregnant women.
Fortunately, many older people over the age of 60 will have been vaccinated against smallpox, which will provide some protection against smallpox.
However, the vast majority of the population does not have significant immunity and the immunity of vaccinated people is likely to decline.
In terms of propagation, is it the result of an over-broadcasting event / human behavior that has since traveled?
We don’t really know for sure, but it seems like a bit of both.
Cases so far are found in communities predominantly but not exclusively of men who have sex with men (MSM).
I understand that preliminary evidence suggests that the virus has been spreading in Europe for at least a month and is related to a couple of big meetings.
Unfortunately, however, we are seeing that it extends to people with no travel history or direct links to the festival.
The scale in terms of numbers and countries affected is what makes this outbreak unusual.
Are you concerned about the spread of Monkeypox? Let us know in the comments section
What are the symptoms and how long do they last?
Most people will have a mild illness course of about two weeks and may experience flu-like symptoms (fever, aches and pains, headache), along with swollen lymph nodes in the neck, growing or armpits, as well as the classic skin lesions.
These skin lesions can be quite obvious and can be found on the hands, genitals and all over the body.
There may even be a single lesion and it may look like a rash, blister, or ulcer.
Because you may be infected for a long time, it is recommended that if you experience these symptoms and think you may have smallpox, isolate yourself and contact the appropriate authorities, such as your GP, by telephone.
Is it just a matter of time before it is NI and how likely is it to spread?
I wouldn’t be surprised if NI sees a couple of smallpox cases in the next few days or weeks.
Awareness and support for people suffering from these symptoms is paramount for the control of this virus through public health measures.
Something good to add is that smallpox is commonly found in West and Central Africa, where it circulates in rodents such as certain species of rats and squirrels and occasionally “jumps” from rodents to humans and can be transmitted. .
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