Moscow Region Resident Hospitalized with Suspected Monkeypox
A resident of the Moscow region was hospitalized at the Domodedovo hospital with suspected monkeypox, according to the medical institution«s press service.
«Necessary diagnostic tests are being conducted to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. In collaboration with territorial bodies of Rospotrebnadzor (the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing), appropriate isolation measures are being implemented,» stated the Domodedovo hospital.
MSK1.RU spoke with virologists and therapists and explains what monkeypox is and whether an outbreak could occur in the Moscow region.
Is it Serious and Potentially Fatal?
As noted by Alexander Chepurnov, head of the laboratory of particularly dangerous infections at the Federal Research Center for Fundamental and Translational Medicine (FIC FTM), professor of virology, monkeypox progresses similarly to a viral infection, but with characteristic papules appearing on the skin and fever. Often, lymph nodes become inflamed against the background of the disease.
«People can contract monkeypox through physical contact with an infected person, contaminated objects, or infected animals,» Chepurnov explained to MSK1.RU.
As clarified by the hospital, the patient was delivered with catarrhal symptoms. According to Andrey Kondrakhin, candidate of medical sciences and therapist, this syndrome is characteristic of the onset of any viral disease: not only monkeypox but also standard ARVI or flu.
«Catarrhal syndrome is a viral inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. It is accompanied by temperature, chills, weakness, sore throat, runny nose,» therapist Andrey Kondrakhin told MSK1.RU.
According to the expert, although the disease is self-limiting and passes on average in 2–4 weeks, monkeypox can cause complications.
«The illness progresses with high temperature, chills with muscle pain and at the site of pox lesions. It requires attention and hospitalization if it is a severe case. Often, other infections are added to smallpox because the virus weakens the immune system and opens up this whole story,» says Andrey Kondrakhin to MSK1.RU.
In the doctor«s opinion, widespread spread of monkeypox in the Moscow region is unlikely.
«To get infected, one needs to be in the focus of this infection and violate all epidemiological norms, for example, have close contact with a sick person. It is unlikely that the disease will become mass now. Considering that the patient has been isolated,» notes Kondrakhin in a conversation with MSK1.RU.
Earlier we reported what is known about the deadly Nipah virus, an outbreak of which was recently recorded in India. Also read about which diseases doctors are raising alarms.
