Wear Gloves & Wash Your Hands!!!
In September 2018 there have been 2 cases of Monkey pox in the UK (Hence the PHE advice)
Monkeypox Virus outbreaks tend to occur in West/Central Africa’s rural forested regions
- Both UK patients have travelled from – Nigeria
Transmission
- Monkeypox Virus enters through mucosal membranes (Reps/GIT/Mouth/Eye), or wounds
- Animal contact (Rodent and Bush meat) is the most common source
- Human-Human transmission is rare but possible
- Contact with clothing/bed linen
- Contact with lesions
- Cough/Sneeze if patient has lesions
Disease Course
- Incubation 5-21 days
- Phase 1: General viral illness (fever, headaches, myalgia, lethargy, lymphadenopathy)
- Phase 2: Rash: initially Maculopapular starting face > extremities, turning into vesicles and pustules later. Phase 1 symptoms often deminish
- Recovery: normally this is self limiting over 3 weeks (but deaths have occurred
Actions
Remember: Patients presenting from this region with fever are far more likely to have Malaria or Typhoid.
Monkeypox Suspected:
- Isolate patient
- Use gloves and strict hand hygiene: Contact with lesions is the highest risk
- Discuss with Microbiologist: If they agree they will contact the IFS (Imported Fever Service) to arrange further assessment and investigation.
- Do not use cubicle: contact HPT (health Protection Team) for cleaning advice
