We are on alert in Puerto Rico.
Lately, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency internationally due to raised cases linked to Monkey Pox (MPOX). The WHO’s goal at an international level is to prevent the spreading of the virus. In the same way, the Department of Health of Puerto Rico planned to meet this goal. It confirmed lookout in the country due to this outbreak with education, prevention, and early detection strategies to mitigate the impact of this disease.
What is monkeypox?
It is one of those rare diseases passed by infection with a zoonotic virus, which can be transmitted from animals to humans, like dengue, rabies, or salmonella. The danger of monkeypox is that it is highly contagious, with symptoms like the flu or human smallpox but milder, followed by a rash. This means stopping its spread depends on the public following the right recommendations to avoid infection.
Incubation period and symptoms
Before symptoms appear, the infection has an average incubation period of 5 to 13 days, though it can stretch up to 21 days. In the beginning, in its first stage, between days 0 and 5, symptoms like the flu appear, along with fever, low strength, chills, swollen lymph nodes, strong headache, muscle pain, and back pain. In its second stage, its peculiarity is that rashes or lesions also appear on many body parts 1 to 3 days after the start of the fever. These blisters can be many or few, raised or flat, and have clear or yellowish liquid.
Monkeypox and chickenpox are not the same. Though both diseases cause blisters on the skin, monkeypox does not cause itching when it appears. A patient with this disease may feel severe pain in the area but not itching.
This skin rash mainly affects the face and may spread to the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It may then crust over, dry out, and fall off. It can also be found in the mouth, genitals, and eyes. Symptoms most often last two to four weeks and go away alone without treatment, even if antivirals used in patients with smallpox may help. One feature singling out monkeypox from other similar diseases is the swelling of the lymph nodes before the skin rash appears.
Let’s avoid contagion: prevention, transmission and treatment
The virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets emitted when speaking or sneezing. It has also been known that it is transmitted through body fluids and touch with lesions of a sick person. That is why it is vital to:
- Stay 6 feet away
- Avoid close contact with others, mostly skin-to-skin contact, including sex contact.
- Wash your hands with soap and water often
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
- Avoid direct contact with bodily fluids or injured material on sick people.
- Avoid using clothing, sheets, blankets, toothbrushes, or other materials that have been in contact with the infected person.
Preventive antiviral treatments such as vaccination, meds, or other clinical interventions are being considered for patients with the infection. The JYNNEOS shot (also known as Imvamune or Imvanex), available as a preventive method, has certain limits for people with health issues, such as a compromised immune system, skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, and pregnant women. This vaccine is available through the Department of Health at its vaccination centers or by calling 787-522-3976.
If you need additional support as a Triple-S member, our Care Model Program team can help you. You can call (787) 474-6322 or 1. 844.777. 2201 (toll-free) Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
TSS-MKT-5559-2024-B
