Minister Of Health Ensures Monkeypox Is Not As Violent As COVID-19: If Anyone Is Exposed And Spots Don't Physical Contact

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin when delivering a press statement for the 3rd HWG at the Hilton Hotel Nusa Dua Bali, Monday (22/8/2022). (ANTARA/Andi Firdaus).

NUSA DUA - Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin appealed to the public to remain calm in responding to the findings of the first case of monkeypox or Monkeypox in Indonesia. The character of the monkeypox virus is said to be not as vicious as SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID-19.

"Monkeypox has occurred in the world as many as 35,000 positive cases have been identified. At the same time, the number of COVID-19 cases has reached millions at the same time," said Budi Gunadi Sadikin in the agenda of the 3rd HWG press conference at the Hilton Hotel Nusa Dua Bali. BETWEEN, Monday, August 22.

Minister of Health Budi said the transmission of monkeypox was much more difficult when compared to COVID-19. Transmission of monkeypox occurs when it is already symptomatic, in contrast to COVID-19, which is asymptomatic, it can be transmitted to other people with weak immunity.

The Minister of Health said that the symptoms that generally arise in monkeypox patients are marked with spots and pus. "If the spots don't come out, they're not contagious. So avoiding them is much easier," he said.

According to Budi, the transmission of monkeypox is not as easy as COVID-19, which can infect the virus within a maximum incubation period of 14 days through droplets or oral fluids. While monkeypox there must be physical contact with the patient.

"If a person is sick and has spots, there should be no physical contact with the person concerned," he said.

Budi believes that people born before the smallpox vaccination era in 1980 had stronger antibody levels than people born after.

"The monkeypox virus, the vaccination is until 1980, and it is valid for life. For those who were born before that year, they should still be protected (from monkeypox), maybe not 100 percent," he said.

Regarding the incidence of deaths from monkeypox, Minister of Health Budi said the number in the world was very low. Of the approximately 35,000 cases reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), up to now 12 people have been identified as having died.

"It's not even dying from the Monkeypox virus, because on the skin it can't cause death," he said.

The main cause of death of Monkeypox patients is triggered by bacteria from scratching fingers or hands that infect lung or brain tissue.

"The result is a skin infection. When itchy, scratched and the infection enters the body and gets infected with bacteria, in the lungs it is usually due to pneumonia, or meningitis in the brain due to bacteria. Not because of monkeypox skin infection," he said.

According to the Minister of Health, there are currently two types of Monkeypox viruses circulating in the world, namely those from West Africa and Central Africa. "One is fatal, and one is not fatal. In Indonesia, it is not fatal because the patient is still doing well," he said.

The Minister of Health appealed to the public to remain disciplined in maintaining health protocols, maintaining distance, wearing masks, and washing hands. In addition, you must consistently maintain cleanliness.