How can you get infected?
The Monkeypox outbreak has affected many people across the globe. The virus was declared a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’ by the World Health Organization last month.
While it is not particularly deadly, Monkeypox can be a very excruciating and painful disease to experience. It can also leave physical scars and can be mentally overwhelming due to lack of knowledge or treatment. In India, there have been 9 confirmed cases so far - 4 from Delhi, 5 from Kerala.
The best you can do is protect yourself by following necessary preventive measures in the first place. Here’s what you need to know on how to protect yourself from the virus if you have plans to date, see friends, or go to concerts:
Sexual contact
Unlike COVID-19, it is not that easy to get infected with the Monkeypox virus. This is why, most infections happen through very close contact for a longer duration of time, such as due to sexual intimacy.
Experts say that so far, about 94% of cases of Monkeypox have been among men who have sex with men, but that’s not a guarantee to always be the case. It can also spread to other social networks that an infected person is in close contact with.
Should you abstain from sex?
Experts believe asking people to be abstinent from sex is not practically possible. Which is why they advise that you should pay attention if you or your partner experience any symptoms and take them seriously.
It is best to check yourself and your partner for any new rashes before getting sexually intimate. Also, beware of any flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, coughs or headaches. It is also very important to communicate about any potential risks with your partner.
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Close and prolonged non-sexual contact
Casual forms of physical contact do not yet seem to be major risk factors for spreading Monkeypox virus. According to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in July, fewer than 1% of people infected with Monkeypox globally had contracted the virus due to “nonsexual contact.” This means that public places like restaurants, movie theaters, or concerts aren’t likely to pose much risk.
Casual contact could be anything from shaking somebody’s hand, touching a doorknob, or putting on clothing that someone infected has worn. In any case, the risks of infection are always lower with more distance between people and less skin-to-skin contact.
Monkeypox’s most telling symptom
The tell-tale sign of Monkeypox is the rash, which appears as raised lesions on the skin. A patient could have just one or a lot of lesions at a time.
According to the data from the the New England Journal of Medicine and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so far, at least 95% of people with monkeypox have developed skin lesions.
Most Monkeypox lesions are usually not painful, except for the ones in the genital area, which can be very difficult to deal with. You should contact your doctor if you develop new, unexpected lesions anywhere on your body.
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Other crucial symptoms
You should also contact your doctor if you experience any other Monkeypox-related symptoms such as fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes or body aches. These flu-like symptoms usually start four or five days before the rash develops. Some people may never have them at all.
Testing for Monkeypox typically involves swabbing at least one to two lesions. If you think you have Monkeypox symptoms which are similar to flu and do not experience any rashes, it is best to not jump at any conclusions till you get tested. Experts advise to temporarily avoid risky contact with others.
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