If you’ve been paying even the least amount of attention to the news lately, you are aware that even though the Covid-19 scare has gotten under control, we now have a new public health emergency; a recent outbreak of monkeypox. As the case-count increases worldwide, it’s important to stay informed and to take the necessary precautions to ensure that both you and your family remain safe. Those with children should be especially careful in making sure that we follow best practices to limit potential exposure to the monkeypox virus and to properly handle an infection if someone in the household has contracted the disease.
As of the time of this writing there have been more than 28k reported cases of moneypox around the world. About 7.5k of those cases are in the United States. Only about 2 cases have been reported as children, but as some experts expect the number of cases to rise, it’s best to be proactive in our preventive measures.
Monkeypox is spread through physical contact with the rash of an infected person or contact with materials/ items that have been in contact with a monkeypox rash, especially fabrics. It can also be spread through large respiratory droplets from an infected person but it is much less likely to be contracted in this way. Luckily, it’s much more difficult to contract and transmit monkeypox than Covid, but it is still very much a contagious disease and precautions must be taken if someone in the home has contracted the disease.
If someone has contracted or potentially contracted monkeypox, it’s important to avoid any skin-to-skin contact
If someone has contracted or potentially contracted monkeypox, it’s important to avoid any skin-to-skin contact with the rashes or bodily fluids of the infected person. It’s also important to avoid contact with any items/ clothing/ bedding/ etc. that may have been exposed to a monkeypox rash. Sharing eating utensils with an infected person is a big no-no. And with most health-related issues, it’s highly advised that we practice good hygiene as far as washing our hands frequently with soap, and to use hand-sanitizer when necessary. Isolation of the infected person is recommended, and it is also suggested that only one person attend to the infected individual to restrict unnecessary exposure.
… it’s highly advised that we practice good hygiene…
The symptoms of moneypox are said to be similar to those of the flu, as well as the more common chickenpox. Fever, rashes/ blisters, swollen lymph nodes, headache, and body-aches are all known symptoms of the disease. It’s common for many pimple-like bumps to appear that later fill with fluid and rupture, leaving blisters that scab over and heal. These bumps can be itchy and/ or painful to the touch. Children under 8 years old, those with severe skin conditions like eczema or auto-immune conditions, and pregnant women are considered to be at increased risk.
Reports indicate that it usually takes around 2-4 weeks for an infected person to recover. An infected person is considered to no longer be contagious if their rashes/ blisters have completely healed, with all scabs that formed having fallen off as well.
It seems we are living in strange times. Not only have we had one serious, worldwide health scare recently, but we’ve had two! And both within the span of a few years! It can be overwhelming to think about when all we want is the health and safety of our loved ones including our children. Although this particular situation is not over yet, we can all do our part to stay informed and to do what we can to prevent further spread of this disease.