General Information about the Current Situation of Monkeypox - Preventive Measures for Monkeypox for Groups with Risky Behaviors of Contracting HIV/AIDS
What is the current general information about monkeypox?
Based on subsection 2.1, Section 2 of the Guidelines issued along with Official Dispatch 1289/AIDS-DP 2023, the general information about monkeypox is provided as follows:
Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by a virus. Monkeypox is not a new disease; it was first recorded in 1958 in colonies of monkeys kept for research, hence the name monkeypox.
Monkeypox is an animal-to-human transmissible disease. Human-to-human transmission occurs through close, direct contact, open wounds, bodily fluids, large respiratory droplets, and contact with contaminated items. Transmission can occur through the placenta from mother to fetus or through close contact during and after birth.
According to WHO, the mortality rate from previously reported cases ranges from 0-11% overall and is higher in young children. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the mortality rate associated with the West African clade of the monkeypox virus is 1%, and it may be higher in immunocompromised individuals.
On July 23, 2022, WHO declared monkeypox a public health emergency. By May 11, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that monkeypox was no longer a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
According to WHO, the characteristics of monkeypox patients are as follows: 97.5% of cases are male; 79% are aged 18-44; among those who reported their sexual history, 90% are men who have sex with men (MSM).
- Among monkeypox patients who know their HIV test results, nearly 50% tested positive for HIV.
In Vietnam, as of October 5, 2023, there have been 09 reported cases of monkeypox, including those infected with HIV and within the MSM group.
What is the current general information about monkeypox? Preventive measures for monkeypox in groups at risk of HIV transmission? (Image from the Internet)
Who needs to be informed about monkeypox preventive measures among groups at risk of HIV infection?
Based on Section 1, Chapter VI of the Guidelines issued along with Official Dispatch 1289/AIDS-DP 2023, the target groups for disseminating information on monkeypox preventive measures for behaviors with a high risk of HIV infection include:
- The MSM community, transgender (TG) individuals, and bisexual individuals;- Drug injection users, Methadone patients;- HIV-infected individuals, AIDS patients;- Healthcare workers at health facilities providing services for the above-mentioned groups.
What are the preventive measures for monkeypox for groups at risk of HIV/AIDS infection?
Based on subsection 2.2, Section 2, Chapter VI of the Guidelines issued along with Official Dispatch 1289/AIDS-DP 2023, the guidelines for monkeypox preventive measures for high-risk groups of HIV/AIDS infection are as follows:
- Prevention Principles:
+ Strengthen adherence to infection prevention and control practices in healthcare facilities.+ Apply “contact” and “droplet” precautions when caring for confirmed and suspected cases.+ In cases where aerosol-generating procedures are performed, mandatory “airborne” precautions are required.+ Investigate, trace, identify close contacts to monitor, manage, and advise on self-health monitoring according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.+ Manage patient relatives and visitors related to monkeypox cases.
- Non-specific preventive measures:
+ Avoid close contact with individuals known or suspected to have monkeypox, avoid direct contact with open wounds, bodily fluids, droplets, and contaminated items.+ Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, preferably with a cloth, handkerchief, disposable tissue, or sleeve to reduce respiratory secretions; wash hands with soap and clean water or disinfectant immediately after coughing or sneezing. Do not spit indiscriminately in public places.+ Regularly wash hands with soap and clean water or use hand sanitizer.+ People with an acute unexplained rash and one or more suspected symptoms should proactively contact healthcare facilities for prompt monitoring and advice. Additionally, they should self-isolate and avoid close contact with others, including sexual contact.+ People traveling to countries/territories with monkeypox outbreaks (Central and West Africa), should avoid contact with mammals (dead or alive) such as rodents, marsupials, primates that may harbor the monkeypox virus. Upon returning to Vietnam, they should proactively report to local health authorities for advice.+ Ensure food safety; adopt a healthy lifestyle, increase physical activity, and improve health.+ Healthcare workers caring for or treating suspected or confirmed monkeypox cases should use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Specific preventive measures:
To date, some studies indicate that previously used smallpox vaccines are somewhat effective in preventing monkeypox. Currently, a few countries have approved the use of new generation (second or third generation) smallpox/monkeypox vaccines for prevention and control of monkeypox.
At present, WHO does not recommend widespread vaccination against monkeypox; it is advised only for high-risk individuals such as healthcare workers, people in direct contact with cases, and vaccination should be assessed and decided on a case-by-case basis for those in contact with and after contact with the disease.
- Border Health Quarantine:
Passengers are advised to monitor their health for 21 days after entry, avoid contact, and gather in crowded places. If symptoms such as a rash, headache, fever, chills, sore throat, malaise, fatigue, and lymphadenopathy occur, they should limit contact with others and go to the nearest healthcare facility for consultation, diagnosis, and treatment.
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