WHO has declared the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency. More than 16,000 cases have spread worldwide. Monkeypox is a disease that is transmitted from animals to humans and is caused by the Monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus, a member of the genus Orthopoxvirus in the family Poxviridae, is a viral zoonotic disease that occurs mainly in the tropical rain forests of Central and West Africa.

 

Monkeypox usually has clinical symptoms of fever, culottes rash, swollen lymph nodes, and can cause various medical complications. Monkeypox is usually a curable disease with symptoms lasting from 2 to 4 weeks. Severe cases can occur with an increased case fatality ratio of about 3-6%.

Transmission of monkeypox between humans can occur through direct contact with skin or mucosal lesions of infected people, body fluids, and droplets from the respiratory tract. The rate of spread of this virus is relatively low, but there is still a risk of further spread globally.

 

The purpose of establishing an emergency status by WHO is as an effort to limit the spread of the virus and accelerate vaccine development. So far, there have been no reports of cases of monkeypox in Indonesia.

 

Preventive Steps for the Spread of Monkeypox:

- Apply a healthy lifestyle

 

- Using a mask

 

- Avoid crowd

 

- Reduce consumption of undercooked meat

 

 

- Diligently wash hands with soap

 

Smallpox vaccination in some observational studies is about 85% effective in preventing monkeypox and can cause milder disease. Evidence of previous vaccination against smallpox can usually be found as a scar on the upper arm.