The risk of cases of monkey pox in our country is imminent, public health specialists say. They believe that the first infections could appear when Moldovans return from their vacation in European countries, where up to now, more than 15 thousand cases have been registered, or from Africa. Experts recommend Moldovans to be vigilant and to go to the doctor at the first symptoms of monkey pox.
In our country, no suspected or confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported so far, but there is a risk that they will appear soon, public health specialists warn.
Ala TOCARCIUC, INTERNATIONAL EXPERT IN PUBLIC HEALTH: “We have people who circulate in Europe and Africa as well. We have this segment of unvaccinated people who are exposed. For these reasons, all the criteria are embodied in order to register these cases in Moldova as well.”
Therefore, people who travel to affected areas and have not been vaccinated against smallpox, that is, Moldovans who were born after 1980, are part of the risk group of being infected with this disease. At the same time, medical employees are also exposed, being the first to come into contact with suspected patients.
Ala TOCARCIUC, INTERNATIONAL EXPERT IN PUBLIC HEALTH: “I think that for medical personnel, who are under the age of 42, vaccination would be one of the indicated and very important measures.”
In our country, however, there is no vaccine against smallpox, because the disease was eradicated in the last century. Moldovans cannot immunize themselves against monkey pox here either, a vaccine being approved only last week by the European Commission.
Laura TURCANU, MEDIC EPIDEMIOLOGY, ANSP: “In case there is even a suspicion of this infection in the country, we will also initiate an auction for the procurement of the vaccine.”
As for the measures taken by the authorities to avoid mass infection among Moldovans, epidemiologists say that they must…
Laura TURCANU, MEDIC EPIDEMIOLOGY, ANSP: “To monitor the epidemiological situation both nationally and globally, to detect cases of infection, to inform the population regarding the increase in awareness and risk factors. Increasing the vigilance of medical workers for the early detection of cases of infection.”
Not only doctors must be more vigilant. Experts in epidemiology recommend the population to avoid contact with people who show symptoms of monkeypox infection. Namely, high fever, muscle pain and rashes on the skin.
Ala TOCARCIUC, INTERNATIONAL EXPERT IN PUBLIC HEALTH: “Infection occurs most of the time through direct contact, through biological fluids. It is also transmitted through bed linens, through the use of accessories of infected persons.”
So far, more than 16 thousand cases of monkeypox have been reported in 75 countries, 80 percent being registered in Europe, where the disease was not endemic. Of these cases, over 20 are at the border with our country, in Romania. Spain, however, is one of the most affected countries, with around 5 thousand infected people. Yesterday, the governor of the state of New York declared a state of emergency, 25 percent of the cases in the US being registered in this state.
Two weeks ago, the World Health Organization declared that monkey pox is a global health emergency and announced the highest level of alert.
So far, five people, originally from Africa, have lost their lives because of this virus.
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