The spread of monkeypox through small virus particles that remain in the air “has not been reported,” the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a guide released Thursday.
It can spread through “saliva or respiratory secretions” during face-to-face contact, but these secretions “quickly disappear from the air,” and studies have found that this method of transmission seems uncommon.
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Unlike other viral diseases such as COVID-19 and measles, the monkeypox virus is not subject to “airborne”, which involves small particles that remain in the air or spread through the air. drafts, the CDC notes.
“In cases where people with smallpox in the monkey have traveled by plane, there have been no known cases of smallpox in people sitting around them, even on long international flights.”
So far six cases have been confirmed in Australia.
NSW Health says monkeypox does not pose a threat of transmission to the community at large, as it is usually transmitted through direct contact with an infected person or contaminated materials.
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But because of the possibility of the monkey’s smallpox spreading through the respiratory secretions, the US agency “recommends that people infected with the monkey’s smallpox wear a mask if they are to be around others. people at home if face-to-face contact is likely. “
Masks are also recommended for healthcare workers and others who may be in close contact with an infected person.
The CDC’s previous guidance had said wearing a mask could help protect travelers from the monkey’s smallpox, but that recommendation was dropped Monday afternoon because it “caused confusion,” the agency said.
The virus spreads mainly through direct contact with the body fluids or ulcers of an infected person, or with contaminated materials such as sheets, according to the guide.
Examples of monkeypox lesions. Credit: UK Health Safety Agency
Researchers are still learning about other potential methods of transmission, such as contact with semen from an infected person or contact with an asymptomatic infected person.
The World Health Organization has confirmed more than 1,000 cases of monkeypox in 29 countries outside Africa since early May.
Australia’s first case was reported on May 20, 2022, with five more confirmed since then, in NSW and Victoria.
Canada issues a monkeypox travel warning to Australia
Canada recently issued a Level 2 smallpox travel warning to countries such as Australia, Britain and the United States.
In a second-level warning (one degree below a call to avoid non-essential travel), the Public Health Agency of Canada said travelers may be subject to procedures to limit the spread of monkeypox. such as insulation, if infected.
“You may have limited access to timely and adequate health care if you become ill and may experience delays in returning home,” the agency said on Twitter.
– With CNN, AAP