The general population does not need to be overly fearful, and infected individuals are mainly in this group. Recently, the number of monkeypox cases in China has increased

The latest news from the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that there were 491 new confirmed cases of monkeypox reported in mainland China in July, which is more than four times the data reported in June. The data also shows that in June, there were 106 new confirmed cases of monkeypox reported in mainland China, and in July, there were 491 new cases. In August, China's CDC and the General Administration of Customs successively released information on the monkeypox epidemic, indicating an upward trend in recent times.

Why is the number of cases of monkeypox, a well-known infectious disease last year, increasing rapidly? How should citizens view it? Jiefang Daily's Shangguan News reporter interviewed Wang Xinyu, Deputy Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, to find out.

Why is the number of cases of monkeypox, a well-known infectious disease last year, increasing rapidly? How should citizens view it? Jiefang Daily's Shangguan News reporter interviewed Wang Xinyu, Deputy Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, to find out.

"Smallpox Kinship" Goes Out of Africa and Causes Multiple Genetic Variations

What is monkeypox? Wang Xinyu introduced that monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans or from humans. As early as 1958, monkeypox virus was discovered during an outbreak of herpes simplex in African crab eating monkey populations. Monkeypox is closely related to the cowpox smallpox subgroup of the smallpox virus, which has an envelope and is also a double stranded DNA virus.

The typical clinical manifestations of monkeypox infected individuals in the past mainly include systemic symptoms and local rashes. The systemic symptoms are characterized by fever, severe headache, enlarged lymph nodes, back pain, myalgia, and severe weakness; The morphology of the rash is very characteristic, and it develops from a rash to a papule, blister, pustule, and dry and detached scab. In severe cases, it may combine with lesions until most of the skin falls off. The clinical manifestations of patients with this outbreak of monkeypox are often not obvious, with most having only transient fever, and even some patients not having fever. Rashes are more common in local areas, including the mouth, hands, genitals, perianal area, and perineum. Rashes scattered throughout the body are relatively rare.

Monkeypox was first known to the world in May 2022, when the virus occurred in the previously unpopular UK and in just one month, more than 4000 confirmed cases were reported in over 40 countries and regions worldwide. Experts say that monkeypox is a close relative of smallpox, and compared to the previously prevalent monkeypox virus in Africa, the clinical manifestations and epidemic characteristics of the monkeypox virus that broke out last year are different.

Although there has been a significant increase in monkeypox cases in China recently, the infected population is relatively fixed. Wang Xinyu said that more than 95% of confirmed infections so far are men who have sex with men, and about half of the total cases are monkeypox combined with HIV infection. The cause of its infection may be related to sexual behavior patterns, unstable sexual partners, and so on.

The typical clinical manifestations of monkeypox infected individuals in the past mainly include systemic symptoms and local rashes. The systemic symptoms are characterized by fever, severe headache, enlarged lymph nodes, back pain, myalgia, and severe weakness; The morphology of the rash is very characteristic, and it develops from a rash to a papule, blister, pustule, and dry and detached scab. In severe cases, it may combine with lesions until most of the skin falls off. The clinical manifestations of patients with this outbreak of monkeypox are often not obvious, with most having only transient fever, and even some patients not having fever. Rashes are more common in local areas, including the mouth, hands, genitals, perianal area, and perineum. Rashes scattered throughout the body are relatively rare.

Most infected individuals are from the "MSM" population, and other populations have low risk

Although there has been a significant increase in monkeypox cases in China recently, the infected population is relatively fixed. Wang Xinyu said that more than 95% of confirmed infections so far are men who have sex with men, and about half of the total cases are monkeypox combined with HIV infection. The cause of its infection may be related to sexual behavior patterns, unstable sexual partners, and so on.

It is gratifying that the monkeypox virus can be eliminated. Once the infected person recovers, it will not be the source of infection, and the infected person will have antibodies themselves. Wang Xinyu stated that this is very different from the HIV virus, which is difficult to completely eliminate. Based on this characteristic, the number of monkeypox infected individuals in foreign countries has been increasing since last spring, reaching a peak in summer, and then continuing to decline to a low level.

Faced with monkeypox infection, the general population does not need to be overly panicked and anxious. Experts say that currently, the general population has an extremely low risk of infection. Previously, there were reports of fatal cases of monkeypox in foreign countries, and there have been almost no cases in China. So far, most of the infected individuals clinically have mild symptoms, with fever, swollen lymph nodes, and skin lesions as the main clinical manifestations. Fever symptoms usually last for no more than a week, and the skin lesions completely recover for about a month, with almost no risk of mortality.

There is currently no specific drug for monkeypox in clinical practice, and the use of smallpox vaccines may have a certain preventive effect. However, due to the limited transmission of the virus, vaccination is not necessary in a wide population. Experts suggest that infected individuals should be promptly detected, treated accordingly, and not avoid seeking medical attention. Experts predict that there will be a significant increase in monkeypox infections in China this summer. Referring to foreign experience, after this peak, as antibodies against infected individuals form, the number of subsequent cases will gradually decrease.