The evolution of the rash during the different moments of the infectious process of monkeypox.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international emergency on Saturday due to the current outbreak of monkeypoxafter confirming five deaths and 17 thousand infections in 74 countries.
The international emergency This was announced at a press conference by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, two days after an emergency committee with experts on this disease met to analyze the possible statement, which it will force national health networks to increase their preventive measures.
Faced with this worrying scenario, a study published by New England Journal of Medicine ensures the main cause of contagion of the disease.
An electron microscope image of mature oval monkeypox virions, left. Photo / AP
What the study says about the source of monkeypox infections
According to scientists, 95% of monkeypox cases were transmitted through sexual activity. Also, the largest study to date, which he also pointed to new clinical symptoms such as single genital lesions.
Led by scientists from Queen Mary University of London, the new study looked at 528 confirmed infections in 16 countries between 27 April and 24 June 2022, according to the AFP news agency.
“Importantly, monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection in the traditional sense.; it can be transmitted through any close physical contact, “lead author John Thornhill said in a statement.
“However, our work suggests that most of the transmissions so far have been related to sexual activitymainly, but not exclusively, between men who have had sex with other men “He added.
Thornhill also said that “the study increases our understanding of the ways in which it spreads and in which groups, which will help to quickly identify new cases and allow us to offer prevention strategies ”.
Skin lesions caused by monkeypox, during a study conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo / EFE
The sexual activity of cases who became ill with monkeypox
According to the New England Journal of Medicine study, the 98% of infected people were gay or bisexual men, 41% were HIV positive and their average age was 38 years.
Their average number of sexual partners in the previous three months was five or so a third acknowledged having visited places conducive to sexual encounters such as parties or saunas in the past month.
The researchers highlighted in a statement that the virus can be transmitted through close physical contact, such as in respiratory droplets and potentially through clothing and other surfaces.
Many of the infected ones showed symptoms that it had not been associated with monkeypox, including single genital lesions and sores in the mouth or anus.
Smallpox of monkeys. Injury to a patient’s hands. Photo / EFE
“These signs are similar to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and can lead to misdiagnosis,” the study authors warned.
“The clinical consequences in this series of cases have been reassuring”, have relativized the specialists. “Most cases were mild and resolved without treatment and there were no deaths. Although 13% of people were hospitalized, no serious complications were reported in the majority of cases. “
source / agencies
Source: Clarin
