Monkeypox: Raising the level of alerts after recording more than a thousand infections in 29 countries around the world

Weather of Arabia - The American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised the degree of danger in alerts from monkeypox to the second level, and also issued reports aimed at raising awareness of ways to spread the monkeypox virus after global cases of infection reached more than 1,000 cases in more than 30 countries.

The second level of alert (the highest level being the third) includes increased precautions that include wearing face masks during travel as well as avoiding close contact with animals and sick people, especially those with skin lesions.

Although the risk has not reached the same level as Covid-19, the world is still recording cases in many countries that do not usually report cases of monkeypox, including the United States, and many of these people have not been found recently in central or middle countries. West Africa, where monkeypox infection usually occurs.

The largest outbreak of the disease outside Africa is currently in Europe, and 366 cases have been reported in the United Kingdom since the first case was recorded in early May 2022, and there are more than 275 cases in Spain, and in Portugal 209 cases, health experts did not specify the source of the outbreak, Which has historically been associated with travel to endemic countries.

Read more: Experts reveal the cause of monkeypox outbreaks in Europe

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by a viral infection, which usually appears initially as flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, muscle aches) before patients develop painful rashes, lesions and enlarged lymph nodes. The incubation period is usually between infection and the onset of Symptoms first appear from 7 to 14 days but can range from 5 to 21 days, and the disease can be fatal in up to 11% of those infected.

An infected person remains infected with the monkeypox virus until all the scales shed and a new layer of skin appears, which can take up to a month, according to the CDC.

According to the CDC, travelers can protect themselves from infection by taking the following steps:

1. Avoid close contact (including sexual contact) with people who are sick or have rashes and contaminated materials. Do not kiss, hug or touch. Do not share eating utensils or cups. Do not touch the bedding or clothing of a sick person.
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. And if you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
3. Avoid animals when traveling. Do not touch live or dead wild animals. Do not touch or eat products that come from wild animals. Avoid touching objects (such as bedding) that the animals have used.