U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns of “Alert – Level 2” warning travelers to “take better precautions” over the spread of smallpox, a rare disease that is a cousin of smallpox .
In its advice, the CDC said the risk to the general public is low, but you should seek medical attention immediately if you have a new, unexplained rash (injury to any part of the body), with or without fever. shivers. “
The CDC has three types of levels it could issue, as cases have been reported in dozens of destinations. The levels are:
- Clock – Level 1: Practice the usual precautions
- Alert – Level 2: Practice enhanced precautions
- Warning – Level 3 – Avoid non-essential travel
On its website, the CDC has not applied levels to specific destinations, as it does with COVID-19.
LEVEL PRECAUTIONS 2
The CDC offers the following recommendations for travelers, as we are at level 2:
- Avoid close contact with sick people, including those with skin or genital lesions.
- Avoid contact with live or dead wild animals. This includes rodents such as rats and squirrels and non-human primates such as monkeys and apes.
- Avoid eating or preparing wild game meat or using products from wild African animals such as creams, lotions and powders.
- Avoid contact with contaminated materials used by sick people, such as clothing, bedding, or materials used in health care facilities or materials that came in contact with infected animals.
WHERE THE MONO POOL WAS NOTIFIED
Usually associated with tropical Africa, confirmed cases of monkeypox are now global. The CDC says cases have been reported in Europe, North America, South America, North Africa, the Middle East and Australia.
Here is a list of destination CDCs with confirmed cases beginning June 6:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- England
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Latvia
- Malta
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- Northern Ireland
- Norway
- Portugal
- Scotland
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Swiss
- United Arab Emirates
- United States
- Wales
The United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland), Spain and Portugal have so far reported the majority of cases, each with more than 100 on 6 June. All other destinations reported less than 100 cases on June 6th. Click here for a current map of the CDC global outbreak.
SYMPTOMS OF MONKEY SMALL
There is an incubation period of about seven to 14 days, the CDC said. The initial symptoms are usually flu, such as fever, chills, exhaustion, headache and muscle weakness, followed by swelling in the lymph nodes, which help the body fight infections and disease.
“One feature that distinguishes monkeypox infection from smallpox infection is the development of swollen lymph nodes,” the CDC said.
This is followed by a rash on the face and body, including the inside of the mouth and the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It can also spread to the genital areas.
The painful, raised pustules are pearly and full of fluid, often surrounded by red circles. The injuries eventually build up and resolve within two to three weeks, the CDC said.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE SICK
The CDC says first avoid contact with others. Other tips:
“If possible, call before you go to a health center. If you can’t call in advance, tell a staff member as soon as you arrive that you’re worried about the monkey’s smallpox.”
The CDC says you should tell your doctor any of the following if it is true during the month before you develop symptoms:
- You had contact with a person who may have had monkeypox.
- You are a man who has had intimate contact (including sex) with other men.
- You were in an area where smallpox has been reported or in an area where smallpox is most common (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone and Sudan).
If you are ill and may have smallpox, the CDC says you can delay travel by public transportation until authorized by a health care professional or public health official.