'Monkeypox nowhere as dangerous as novel coronavirus'

Do not be fearful of monkeypox. It is nowhere as dangerous as the novel coronavirus which triggered the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is the important message from doctors, as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox, a public health emergency on account of its spread currently to many countries.

“The world is familiar with the monkeypox virus unlike the novel coronavirus. It has been known for over 50 years,” said Medical Registrar Dr. Ravindu Kodithuwakku of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital who has been poring over research and information from across the world.

Earlier, the monkeypox virus had been seen mainly in Central and West Africa and a very few other countries, but this year (2022) many cases have been and are being detected in a large number of countries. (See graphic)

Dr. Kodithuwakku says that some viruses enter the human body faster than others and also grow within the human body quickly causing a lot of trouble to patients. But the monkeypox virus is not much of a troublemaker and causes illness which is mostly comparable to chickenpox.

Profiling monkeypox, he says that it is a self-limiting disease which means that it goes away after a certain period of time – a few weeks. While people can catch it from animals, it can also be passed from person-to-person

through close contact for some time and not contact in passing. Rarely, it may be dangerous to the very young and very old and also to those with reduced immunity.

Monkeypox usually spreads through dropletsfrom an infected person’s nose and mouth as also direct contact with skin blisters and contact with stuff such as clothes, bedding and towels which may have got contaminated by an infected person. The incubation period (the time between the virus entering a person’s body and causing symptoms) is about one to two weeks, it is learnt.

Dr. Kodithuwakku says that information available so far from around the globe has identified an increased risk in this outbreak for men who were reportedly gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men, though the reason why is unclear.

“This viral disease is usually not thought to be sexually transmitted. Doctors are seeking answers whether the virus is being passed in sexual bodily fluids or due to close contact,” he adds.