4 people were infected after close contact! China CDC discovered a cluster outbreak

Recently, the China Centers for Disease Control reported

my country discovered a

Cluster of monkeypox virus subclade Ib outbreaks

The source of infection was a foreigner

Have a history of living in Congo (DRC)

After the outbreak was discovered, the country and provinces (cities) such as Zhejiang, Guangdong, Beijing, and Tianjin quickly launched a joint prevention and control mechanism to conduct epidemiological investigation and tracing, risk investigation, case diagnosis and treatment, and found four related cases among close contacts, all of whom were infected after close contact. The related cases mainly showed symptoms such as rash and herpes , which were relatively mild.

So far, no infected persons have been found among general contacts. Relevant infected persons and risk persons are receiving medical treatment and health observation, and the epidemic has been effectively dealt with.

The strain is more contagious

Reduced severity of infection

What is monkeypox virus subclade Ib?

At present, monkeypox virus is divided into clade I and clade II, and the two clades are further divided into subclades Ia, Ib and Ⅱa, Ⅱb. The cluster outbreak in China this time was caused by subclade Ib of monkeypox virus, which was first discovered in South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo in September 2023.

To date, 12 countries outside Africa, including Sweden, Thailand, India, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Canada, Belgium, France, Pakistan, Oman, and China, have reported imported cases of infection with the monkeypox virus subclade Ib.

What are the characteristics of monkeypox virus subclade Ib?

The basic characteristics of the monkeypox virus subclade Ib have not changed significantly. Compared with the Ia subclade, the infectivity of the Ib subclade has increased , but the severity of infection has decreased .

Monkeypox virus subclade Ib is mainly transmitted through close contact such as sexual contact , close contact within the family , and unprotected medical care contact .

What is monkeypox?

3 situations can cause infection

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic infectious disease caused by monkeypox virus infection. People and animals infected with monkeypox virus are the main sources of infection.

File photo: Electron microscope images provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show mature monkeypox virus (left) and immature virus particles (right).

These 3 situations can lead to infection:

As long as the monkeypox virus enters the human body through the skin or mucous membranes , people may suffer from monkeypox.

Infection can occur through contact with respiratory secretions, pathological exudates, blood, and other body fluids of infected animals or humans .

After leaving the human body, the monkeypox virus can survive on the surface of objects for a long time, and infection may occur by touching objects contaminated with the virus .

If you experience these symptoms, please seek medical attention immediately

The main clinical manifestations of monkeypox are rash, fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes , etc.

Image source: Guangdong Centers for Disease Control

In the early stages of the disease, there are chills and fever , and the body temperature is mostly above 38.5℃.

A rash appears 1 to 3 days after the onset of the disease, usually starting on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body. These rashes progress from macules, papules, and vesicles to pustules and last for about a week before scabbing. Once all the scabs fall off, the infected person is no longer contagious.

After a high-risk contact

What measures should be taken?

Pay attention if you have suspected infection

People who have been in contact with suspected monkeypox cases should actively monitor their health for 21 days , taking their temperature and monitoring symptoms every day;

Avoid close contact with others during this time;

Avoid close contact with animals, including pets;

If you experience symptoms such as rash, herpes, swollen lymph nodes, and fever, you should seek medical attention promptly and inform your doctor of your exposure history.

Do these 4 things and monkeypox will go away!

Wash your hands frequently and pay attention to personal hygiene. It is recommended to clean your hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Avoid sexual activity with people whose health conditions are unknown.

Outbound tourists should pay attention to monkeypox epidemic information in the destination countries and regions, and avoid contact with rodents, primates and other animals.

If high-risk behavior occurs, you should monitor your health for 21 days.

If your family or friends are diagnosed with monkeypox, you should pay attention to personal protection, avoid close contact with the patient, avoid contact with clothes, bedding, towels and other daily necessities used by the patient, and avoid sharing the bathroom.

Source: Beijing Daily, CCTV News Client