Reporter Huang Zhongqiu / Report from Taipei
▲Zheng Yubin, attending physician of the Dermatology Department of Cathay General Hospital, said that the blisters of monkeypox are relatively rough, and the average size of each vesicle can reach more than 1 cm. (Picture / Taken from WHO website who.int)
Please read on….
The monkeypox epidemic continues to spread. So far, 10 local cases have been accumulated. The cases are located in 8 counties and cities, and no connection can be found. A few days ago, the Dermatological Medical Association urgently announced that it will hold a monkeypox seminar on March 31. The speaker Zheng Yubin, an attending physician at the Dermatology and Hair Transplant Center of Cathay General Hospital, revealed to “Sanli News Network” that due to the early warning of the members of the medical association, the local monkeypox epidemic It is likely to increase significantly within one month, and it is more likely to increase rapidly in April, so it is recommended to hold monkeypox seminars earlier. At that time, hundreds of dermatologists will brainstorm and prepare for the battle in the form of video conference.
Zheng Yubin said that in the middle of 2022, there will be a serious outbreak of monkeypox in Europe and the United States. At that time, the Dermatology Association believed that monkeypox would come in sooner or later. Last year, dermatologists tensed their nerves and did their homework on the differential diagnosis of monkeypox. However, after more than half a year of the epidemic, it was not until March 1 this year that the local cases were truly “closed.”
The spread of local monkeypox in a special circle of friends is exactly the same as the epidemic pattern in Europe and the United States. A pandemic is expected
Zheng Yubin said that his own specialty is skin infectious diseases, and he will share new knowledge of infectious diseases at the medical association. The monkeypox seminar was originally scheduled for the annual meeting in May this year, but the number of monkeypox sporadic cases has increased significantly in the past month , and the route of infection is different from the transmission mode of monkeypox in West Africa in the past. It is almost the same as the transmission mode of the “special friendship circle” epidemic in Europe and the United States last year, and it is an intimate contact infection.
The incubation period of monkeypox is 5-21 days and the follow-up effect will appear in April
Since the incubation period of monkeypox is about 5 to 21 days, the follow-up effects of the infected epidemic in March will appear in April. Therefore, many members of the medical society have expressed in the group that they should hold monkeypox seminars as soon as possible to prevent the outbreak of monkeypox. Prepare for the battle, so let the seminar be held earlier on March 31.
Zheng Yubin said that after the incubation period of monkeypox, symptoms such as fever, chills, and blisters will begin to appear, and it is already contagious at this time. In addition to skin contact, the patient’s droplets may also carry the virus. A few days ago, the reason why the European and American epidemics did not come to Taiwan quickly is speculated to be related to the widespread wearing of masks during the new crown epidemic, which slightly affected the spread of monkeypox; after the new crown epidemic, the restrictions on masks will be relaxed, and the chance of infection will increase. Sexual behavior is not wearing a mask at all, and both routes of infection may occur.
The seminar will allow hundreds of dermatologists to prepare for the competition in advance
When asked what topics the monkeypox seminar would focus on, Zheng Yubin revealed that monkeypox was actually quite rare in the past, and the medical community knew only a little more about monkeypox than the original COVID-19. Some doctors said that recently, many patients with severe rashes came to ask if they had monkeypox. Therefore, in addition to explaining the basic introduction of monkeypox in the seminar, for dermatologists, the differential diagnosis of monkeypox more important.
Zheng Yubin gave an example, the symptoms of monkeypox and chickenpox are quite similar, and there will be a generalized rash. In terms of blisters, the rash will first spread from the trunk to the cheeks, and then spread to the limbs; as for monkeypox, it will start from the face first. Then to the limbs, then the torso. The sequence is just the opposite of chickenpox.
Zheng Yubin said that enterovirus HFMD can also produce blisters on the palms, but similar to chickenpox blisters, they are relatively small, mostly less than 0.5 centimeters; monkeypox blisters are more rough, with an average size of more than 1 centimeter each. The Monkeypox Symposium will allow hundreds of dermatologists to prepare for the battle in the form of video conferencing.
