Back to school season! Regarding monkeypox, college students should know how to protect themselves

The new semester is coming.

As a new student, are you full of longing for college life?

Or if you are already familiar with college life,

On the road to pursuing dreams,

Have you found your true love at the same time?

…

At present, the number of confirmed cases of monkeypox has increased significantly

College students want love, not acne!

What you need to know about monkeypox

Current monkeypox diagnosis status

The "Monkeypox Epidemic Monitoring Situation in July 2023" recently released on the website of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that from July 1 to 31, 2023, 491 new confirmed cases of monkeypox were reported in 23 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan).

Is the monkeypox virus brought by monkeys? What are the symptoms of infection?

According to the Monkeypox Prevention and Control Plan developed by the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Health Commission, the host of the monkeypox virus is still unclear. It is currently believed that African rodents (African squirrels, tree squirrels, Gambian kangaroos, dormice, etc.) may be its natural hosts. The source of infection includes monkeypox cases and infected rodents, monkeys, apes and other primates.

The most common clinical manifestations of monkeypox infection include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes . There may also be headaches, itching, fatigue, muscle aches, back pain, sore throats, oral ulcers, etc. Among them, swollen lymph nodes are the characteristic that distinguishes monkeypox from chickenpox.

The occurrence of rash often goes through several stages, including macules, papules, blisters, pustules, scabs, and scab shedding. Different forms of rashes may exist at the same time, which may be accompanied by obvious itching and pain. It may affect the oral and pharyngeal mucosa, anus, genitals, conjunctiva, and cornea. Scars may be left. If the symptoms are mild and active measures are taken for treatment, generally no scars will be left; but if the symptoms are severe, the area is large, and there is no effective treatment, permanent scars may be left. Therefore, students, don't take it lightly!

How is monkeypox virus transmitted? Who are the high-risk groups?

The monkeypox virus is transmitted from person to person mainly through contact with skin or mucosal lesions, oral secretions, respiratory droplets, and virus-contaminated items (such as bedding) of monkeypox patients.

According to the "Monkeypox Public Protection Guidelines (2023)", people at high risk of monkeypox infection include people who live with or have close contact (including sexual contact) with monkeypox patients, such as men who have sex with men ; people who come into contact with monkeypox patients, including health workers infected with the monkeypox virus; children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

How to prevent monkeypox? You may have these questions about monkeypox

First of all, students don’t need to worry too much. Although monkeypox is generally susceptible to the general population and has a certain risk of transmission, the spread of monkeypox is still relatively slow compared to respiratory infectious diseases such as the new coronavirus and influenza. And compared with sexual transmission, the risk of transmission through daily contact is relatively low. In daily life, if you pay attention to self-protection, it is not easy to be infected with monkeypox.

Some questions about monkeypox:

Q1. Can monkeypox cause death?

Generally no. A mild case of monkeypox is generally not fatal. However, a severe case of monkeypox, if not treated promptly, can lead to death.

Therefore, students, do not be afraid of the eyes of people around you, avoid seeking medical treatment, and delay treatment . Once diagnosed, you should seek medical attention immediately and receive timely treatment.

Q2. If I am infected with monkeypox, do I need to be quarantined?

Suspected and confirmed cases of monkeypox should be promptly transferred to medical institutions for isolated treatment. If clinical symptoms improve significantly and lesions have scabbed over, they can be transferred to home isolation treatment until the scabs fall off naturally and home isolation is lifted. For cases with mild symptoms and conditions for home isolation treatment, home isolation treatment can be directly adopted after joint evaluation by medical and disease control agencies.

During home quarantine, patients should live in a single room, avoid direct skin or mucous membrane contact between infected people and family members, disinfect pollutants, and avoid going out unless necessary. When going out, wear long clothes and long pants, wear a mask, avoid going to crowded places, and avoid direct skin or mucous membrane contact with other people.

Close contacts of monkeypox no longer need to be quarantined in a centralized or home quarantine, but only need to "monitor their own health for 21 days from the date of the last close contact."

Close contacts can live and work normally during this period and take personal protection measures, such as avoiding close contact with others such as sexual contact, avoiding blood donation, monitoring symptoms, and seeking medical treatment in a timely manner if symptoms occur.

At the same time, given that the current epidemic is mainly concentrated in relatively hidden groups such as men who have sex with men, the new version of the plan also specifically emphasizes that "localities should pay attention to protecting the privacy of cases, close contacts and key groups during the prevention and control of monkeypox."

Students, isolation has a great impact on your study and life, so you must strengthen your self-protection.

Q3. Will monkeypox be like AIDS, where once infected, it will never go away?

No. Monkeypox is a self-limiting disease. It can be cured by taking medication as prescribed by the doctor and treating the symptoms.

Q4. If I have been vaccinated against smallpox, will I not get monkeypox?

Of course not. (And most college students today have not received the smallpox vaccine.)

Although the smallpox vaccine has a certain degree of cross-protection against the monkeypox virus, it does not provide 100% immunity to the monkeypox virus. Moreover, as time goes by, the level of antibodies in the body decreases, and the protective effect of the smallpox vaccine also decreases. Moreover, China has stopped vaccinating against smallpox since 1982. Nowadays, college students have basically not received the smallpox vaccine, so students should not be lucky!

Q5. Is monkeypox vaccine currently available in China?

Not yet. Although vaccination is an effective means of preventing monkeypox, there is currently no vaccine available in China to prevent monkeypox. Therefore, students should pay attention to daily protection.

Finally, let me emphasize:

1. Pay attention to self-protection and avoid risky sexual behavior with strangers. Avoid having sex with multiple sexual partners. Try to avoid going to bars, nightclubs and other entertainment venues. If you must go, do not kiss or engage in intimate behavior with strangers in these venues.

2. If you become a close contact, follow the guidance of relevant departments, actively monitor your health and regulate your behavior, and seek medical treatment in a timely manner if you have symptoms.

3. If there are confirmed/suspected cases of monkeypox around you, you should avoid close contact with them (including sexual contact and long-term close contact). At the same time, pay attention to personal hygiene. If you come into contact with a suspected monkeypox infected person or items used by him/her, you should wash your hands in time and disinfect them with 75% alcohol.

Source: Jiangsu CDC

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