BBC News – The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has updated its recommendations in response to outbreaks of a new strain of the monkeypox virus. Other continents, including Europe, can expect some cases too, it says.
ECDC says the risk of it spreading everywhere is low, despite the World Health Organization recently declaring the monkeypox situation a global emergency.
Monkeypox can be passed on by close contact with anyone with the infection.
Those who have been vaccinated against monkeypox in the past might only need one-top up dose, rather than two shots.
Booster vaccine doses are typically recommended every two to 10 years if a person remains at continued risk for exposure.
Monkeypox has killed at least 450 people in the DRC in recent months, linked to a new type or Clade called 1b.
What’s known about monkeypox
Monkeypox can be passed on from person to person through:
- any close physical contact with mpox blisters or scabs (including during sexual contact, kissing, cuddling or holding hands)
- touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with mpox
- the coughs or sneezes of a person with mpox when they’re close to you
[But it’s mostly spread by anal sex among promiscuous homosexual and bisexual men. – HH]
It causes flu-like symptoms, skin lesions and can be fatal for some …
