Smallpox: New guidelines from the Ministry of Health

As of 13 May 2022, smallpox cases have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by 30 Member States. In addition, 1536 suspicious cases have been reported from 8 countries in the African region, of which 59 cases have been confirmed and 72 deaths have been reported.

While epidemiological research continues, most of the reported cases to date have occurred through sexual health clinics or other health services in primary or secondary health care facilities with a history of travel to European and North American countries rather than endemic countries. that the virus exists.

The majority of confirmed cases (1056, 87%) come from the European Region of the WHO. Confirmed cases have also been reported from the Americas (141), the Eastern Mediterranean region (14) and the Western Pacific region (6).

Table 1.

Monkey pox cases in non-endemic countries according to a WHO report between 13 May and 8 June 2022.

Country	Confirmed incidents
United Kingdom	336
Spain	198
Portugal	191
Germany	113
Canada	101
France	66
Netherlands	54
USA	37
Belgium	24
Italy	22
United Arab Emirates	13
Switzerland	12
Ireland	7
Czech republic	6
Slovenia	6
Australia	6
Sweden	5
Denmark	3
Φινλανδία	3
Argentina	2
Israel	2
Latvia	2
Νορβηγία	2
Mexico	1
Μαρόκο	1
Austria	1
Georgia	1
Hungary	1
Malta	1
Total	1217

As the situation develops, the WHO expects more cases of smallpox in monkeys, as surveillance extends to all regions and countries.

Risk Assessment:

The possibility of monkey pox spreading to people with multiple sexual partners in the EU / EEA is currently considered high.

Although most outbreaks in current epidemics have been associated with mild disease symptoms, monkey pox virus can cause severe disease in some populations (young children, pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals). However, the likelihood of cases of severe morbidity cannot yet be accurately assessed.

In our country no case of smallpox of monkeys has been confirmed and the risk is assessed as moderate for people who have multiple sexual partners and low for the general population.

Instructions for self protection:

• avoiding sexual contact with someone with a local rash and limiting the number of sexual partners,
• avoid close contact with someone who has symptoms that are consistent with a possible smallpox infection,
• frequent hand washing with soap and water or alcohol-based gel,
• maintenance of protection measures against respiratory communicable diseases (mask and distance).

Ways to recognize the symptoms and manage

If a person develops symptoms such as:

• blister rash on face, hands, feet, eyes, mouth and / or genitals and anal area,
• fever,
• swollen lymph nodes,
• headaches,
• muscle aches,
• fatigue,

AND

observes the definition of the probable case and the epidemiological criteria such as:

• positive result in a test for viruses of the genus Orthopoxvirus
• an epidemiological link to a confirmed or possible case of monkey pox within 21 days before the onset of symptoms;
• reported travel history to countries endemic for smallpox in the 21 days prior to the onset of symptoms,
• a person (of any sexual orientation) who has had multiple or unknown sexual partners in the 21 days before the onset of symptoms,

should contact their personal physician or visit the nearest emergency department for evaluation.

If it is judged that the incident is suspected of smallpox, the patient will be referred for specialized examinations to the reference hospitals (Nicosia General Hospital for adults and Makareio hospital for children).

More management information can be found in the advanced press release issued on 30/5/2020:

https://bit.ly/3OcXOBG

Contact telephones: 22605678, 22605456 (8:00-20:00)

Phone for Tracking Queries: 22421600 (8:00-20:00)

Email: cycomnet@cytanet.com.cy