These Are 5 Categories Of People Exposed To Monkeypox, Be Careful It Can Be Transmitted Through Droplets And Body Fluids!

Cases of monkeypox or monkeypox. (doc. Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has confirmed that until now cases of monkeypox or monkeypox have not been confirmed in Indonesia.

"Based on the WHO report as of May 21, 2022, reports of new monkeypox cases appeared in several non-endemic countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, England and America," said the Director General. Ministry of Health's Disease Prevention and Control Maxi Rein Rondonuwu in his statement, Sunday, May 29.

Maxi said that currently the Ministry of Health has also differentiated the categories of people exposed to monkeypox. The labeling of monkeypox cases is based on the WHO definition.

According to him, the symptoms or signs of people exposed to monkeypox are clear, with water-filled nodules and blisters or lesions appearing.

"Most of the cases were reported from patients who did not have a history of travel to endemic countries and some cases were related to participation in large gatherings which could increase the risk of contact either through lesions, body fluids, droplets, and contaminated objects," he said.

The categories of monkeypox as defined by WHO and determined by the Ministry of Health are suspected, probable, confirmed, discarded, and close contact.

1. Suspect

Category of persons with unexplained acute rash (papules, vesicles and/or pustules) in non-endemic countries. People in the suspect category have one or more symptoms such as headache, acute fever above 38.5 degrees Celsius, lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes), muscle pain/myalgia, back pain, and asthenia (weakness of the body).

2. Probable

Categories of people who meet the criteria of a suspect with the following criteria:

a. Have an epidemiological relationship (face-to-face exposure, including health workers without PPE); direct physical contact with skin or skin lesions, including sexual contact; or contact with contaminated objects such as clothing, bedding or equipment in probable or confirmed cases 21 days before the onset of symptoms.

b. Travel history to Monkeypox endemic countries in the 21 days prior to the onset of symptoms.

c. The orthopoxvirus serological test results were positive but had no history of smallpox vaccination or orthopoxvirus infection.

d. He was hospitalized for his illness.

3. Confirm

Category of people with suspected and probable cases who are declared positive for Monkeypox virus infection, as evidenced by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) laboratory examinations and/or sequencing.

4. Discarded

Category of people with suspected or probable cases with negative PCR results and/or Monkeypox sequencing.

5. Contact

Category is a person who has a history of contact with a probable case or confirmed case of monkeypox (from the onset of symptoms until the scab peels / disappears) and meets one of the following criteria:

a. Face-to-face contact (including health workers without the use of appropriate PPE).

b. Direct physical contact includes sexual contact.

c. Contact with contaminated items such as clothing, bedding.