What Italy will do against monkeypox
Quarantine and vaccine, the Ministry of Health gives further indications on how to deal with monkeypox which, so far, has caused 505 cases in Italy. All the details
There are 505 cases of monkeypox in Italy. The infection, according to the latest bulletin of the Ministry of Health, continues to develop almost exclusively among males, among which there are 501 cases against 4 among women. Numbers that led the ministry to provide some guidelines on quarantine in "specific environmental and epidemiological contexts".
Meanwhile, the Spallanzani hospital in Rome has announced that it will soon be ready to go with the vaccine.
WHAT THE MINISTRY ESTABLISHED ABOUT THE QUARANTINE
"In specific environmental and epidemiological contexts, on the basis of the assessments of the health authorities, the application of quarantine measures may be required", states the circular of the Ministry of Health which provides updates on the situation and measures adopted by our country.
CLOSE CONTACTS
"Close contacts – continues the circular – must be identified as soon as possible and informed of their exposure and the risk of developing infection". In these cases, the people involved – "based on the assessments of the health authorities" – could be subjected to quarantine.
By close contacts, therefore, we mean sexual partners, cohabiting family members, health workers who have treated the case without protective equipment and who has come into prolonged contact with a patient infected with monkeypox.
Those deemed to be "close contacts" should also not donate blood, cells, tissues, organs, breast milk or sperm while under surveillance.
LOW RISK CONTACTS
For contacts with low-risk exposures, however, "it is possible to adopt passive surveillance, self-check and inform your family doctor".
Self-monitoring, the ministry clarifies, involves checking for fever (at least twice a day) or for other symptoms such as headache, back pain, lymphadenopathy, or rash of unknown cause within 21 days of the last exposure.
ASYMPTOMATIC CONTACTS
"Asymptomatic contacts who adequately and regularly check their status can continue routine daily activities such as going to work and attending school (quarantine is not necessary)", the Ministry of Health specifies in the circular.
INDICATIONS FOR ANYONE HAS HAD CONTACTS
Anyone who has had contact, even at low risk, with an infected person should refrain from sexual activities for 21 days after the last exposure, have careful hand and respiratory hygiene (cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, with tissues disposable to dispose of properly and wash your hands often); avoid contact with immunocompromised people, children under 12 and pregnant women for 21 days after the last exposure; avoid close direct contact with animals, including pets, for 21 days after the last exposure.
VACCINATION ACCORDING TO THE MINISTRY
The circular, signed by the director general for prevention Gianni Rezza, finally specifies that “specific indications on the vaccination strategy in Italy against monkeypox will be provided with subsequent publication”.
SPALLANZANI AT THE BLOCKING POSTS
But in the meantime, the Spallanzani hospital in the capital has already said "soon ready to go with the smallpox vaccine for monkeypox and awaits the recruitment procedures from the ministry [or the criteria for defining the audience, ed .]", According to what was reported by the councilor for health of the Lazio region, Alessio D'Amato.
“Spallanzani has offered its willingness to be a regional reference center for vaccination for Monkeypox – added Francesco Vaia, Spallanzani's general manager -. We have also offered our expertise, also with the contribution of the Associations, for a correct information campaign. We await the ministerial guidelines to which we are actively collaborating ".
HOW THE VACCINE IS GIVEN
The vaccine against smallpox, recently approved by the Italian drug agency (Aifa) also against monkeypox, according to what is learned from the Lazio region, provides for a first dose and a booster to be administered after an interval of 2-3 months.
WHAT EXPERTS FEAR
According to the virologist of the State University of Milan, Fabrizio Pregliasco, the current epidemic of monkeypox is caused by "a virus that in its variations has reduced its symptoms somewhat". No more faces disfigured by vesicles, "now many forms refer to some vesicle in the pubis", says the expert.
“What frightens us – explains Pregliasco – is that there may be a contagion on some rodents and that it becomes endemic, because in Africa it is transmitted through the bites of mice. Here the main route is instead linked to the vesicles that break during a sexual act ".
THE LEAP OF SPECIES AND THE CONTAGION FROM PERSON TO PERSON
Some zoonoses, that is the infections that pass from animals to humans, have in fact also the ability to pass from man to man once the species jump has been made.
The virus that causes monkeypox was first discovered in the late 1950s, but in the last three to four years, writesBBC , it has undergone changes that have made it easier for it to transition from human to human. other.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/sanita/cosa-fara-litalia-contro-il-vaiolo-delle-scimmie/ on Wed, 03 Aug 2022 08:06:44 +0000.