Academics: Socialization And Education About Monkeypox Needs To Be Intensified

Photo: Doc. Antara/Shutterstock

JAKARTA - Academic from Muhammadiyah University of Purwokerto (UMP) Dr. Ns. Umi Solikhah said that socialization and education about monkeypox needed to be intensified in order to increase public understanding and awareness in the country.

"Socialization and education about monkeypox need to be intensified to all levels of society," he said, quoted from Antara, Saturday, August 6.

The Dean of the UMP Health Sciences Faculty added that socialization and education are needed considering that monkeypox or monkeypox has spread in many countries, including countries in the Asian region.

"Although until now there have been no confirmed cases of monkeypox transmission in Indonesia, socialization is very necessary so that the community can play an active role in taking preventive measures," he said.

According to him, education about the disease also needs to be delivered in schools so that parents and students can understand about the disease and how to prevent it.

"Thus, it is hoped that the dissemination of information and education regarding monkeypox or monkeypox will be more massive to all levels of society," he said.

Meanwhile, he also assessed that the public needs to increase awareness regarding the risk of transmission of monkeypox disease, but there is no need to panic too much.

"Let's raise awareness together, but don't panic too much, the most important thing is to cultivate a clean and healthy lifestyle," he said.

Umi Solikhah assessed that clean and healthy living behavior was needed to prevent various health problems.

"Especially in the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic, clean and healthy living behavior is very much needed to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and also prevent other diseases such as monkeypox," he said.

Regarding monkeypox, he also invited the public to immediately go to the nearest health facility if they feel symptoms that lead to monkeypox.

Meanwhile, Research Center Researcher for Public Health National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Masdalina Pane said monkeypox is a viral disease caused by Orthopoxvirus.

"The incubation period is between 5-21 days, with symptoms varying in each patient, but similar to other infectious diseases, in general the symptoms are fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and what is typical is the appearance of a rash on the skin, " he said.