Dr. Barcelova on monkeypox: The situation is more serious in children, adolescents and pregnant women – Health

World Health Organization (WHO) Declared an international emergency due to a new outbreak Monkeypoxcalled PoxvirusMore than 14,000 people have been infected worldwide in recent months, with more than 500 deaths recorded. The outbreak is concentrated in Africa but has begun to spread to other regions, including Europe, where the first case has been confirmed.

First case in Europe

The virus, which initially spread mainly in Central and West Africa, has begun to spread in Europe. This has caused serious concern for health authorities around the world because the disease is highly contagious and can easily spread in communities where people come into contact with each other more frequently. Dr. Kristina Barcelova The commentary said there was a risk that the virus would mutate and change, increasing the risk of further spread.

“When we’re talking about a disease that is contagious and easily spread, there’s always cause for concern. So far, we know Poxviruswhich is a previous variant that has been circulating for several years. But what happened Democratic Republic of the Congoindicating that the virus can be transmitted from person to person and that it can also change, mutate and adapt to the human organism.”Dr. Barcelova said.

She said the possibility of the virus mutating, which carries a risk of increasing its lethality, was another cause for international concern.

Mpox, Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, one case has been registered Monkeypoxthe National Center for Communicable and Parasitic Diseases (NCCPD) confirmed the infection. Dr. Barcelova explained that the disease is mainly transmitted sexually, but can also be initially transmitted through infected animals. In Central and West Africa, the main carriers of the virus are rodents and primates. After the initial contact, the virus can begin to spread widely between people, especially through close contact.

Symptoms of monkeypox are similar to other infectious disease Includes high fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a characteristic rash. The rash usually starts on the hands and spreads over the body. The incubation period is 5 to 21 days, most commonly 6 to 13 days from the date of contact with an infected person.

_“The situation is even more serious among children, adolescents and pregnant women. People born before 1970 vaccine Against smallpox, it forms a cross immunity and oppose Gluten. Therefore, their condition is not expected to be serious.”” Dr. Batselova explained.