Monkeypox Again Makes Heboh: Anyone Can Get Affected, Beware Of Skin Contacts To Skin

Monkeypox is not a category of sexually transmitted infection (IMS), but must be wary of skin to skin contact. (Between/HO-Sutterstock)

JAKARTA The monkeypox case has become a public concern after the increase in cases throughout October.

Until October 23, 2023, the Ministry of Health recorded eight cases of monkeypox in Jakarta, since its first appearance in the middle of last year. However, the Head of the Surveillance, Epidemiology and Immunization Section of the DKI Jakarta Health Office, Ngabila Salama, asked the public not to panic over the emergence of a number of cases of monkeypox in the capital city.

"People don't panic, but they need to be vigilant. Do some ways to prevent illness and prevent death. Avoid complications and deaths by early detection," Ngabila said in his statement, Monday, October 23.

The first case of monkeypox in Jakarta was detected in August 2022. After a year of no addition, cases of monkeypox appeared again on October 13, 2023.

Monkeypox cases were detected again on October 19, 2023, as well as the addition of four other cases on October 21, 2023. The seven positive cases in DKI are all male aged 25-35 years.

Monkeypox was previously calledmonkeypox. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) changed the namemonkeypox tompox in November 2022 to reduce stigmatization and other problems.

LaunchingHerthline, monkeypox is a virus disease similar to smallpox. This disease is characterized by fever, swelling of lymph nodes, and rashes such as lesions. Lesi can appear in or near the genitals or anus and in other areas.

Still from the same source, Mpox is also a zoonosis disease. That is, this disease can be transmitted from animal to human and vice versa. Mpox can also be transmitted from one human to another.

Monkeypox is caused by thempox virus. This virus is part of the genus Orthopoxvirus, which is a virus that causes smallpox.

Scientists first identified the disease in 1958. There are two outbreaks in monkeys used for research, so this condition is called monkeypox.

Meanwhile, the first human case of thempox occurred in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

According to the CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Mpox virus can spread through intimate contacts such as hugging, massaging, kissing, and having sex. In addition, the Mpox virus can also be transmitted by touching objects during sex containing thempox virus, such as beds, towels, or sex toys. The transmission of the monkeypox virus can also occur through the bite and scratch of animals infected with the campix or eating the animal's meat.

Reporting from the WHO page, the monkeypox virus can enter and infect the human body through damaged skin, respiratory tract such as nose and mouth, or through the eyes.

Staff of the Division of Tropical Diseases and Infections of the Medical Staff Group of Internal Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (UI) Robert Sinto, reminded that sexual activity plays a role in the transmission of monkeypox.

"In the last year from 2022-2023, the mode of close contact transmission through sexual intercourse has become a factor, which has often been linked to cases of monkeypox in the past year," said Robert during a webinar that was followed from Jakarta, Thursday (19/10/2023), quoted by Antara.

However, Dr. Linda Yancey, an infectious disease specialist at the Memorial Hermann Health System in Housten, reminded that monkeypox is not included in the category of sexually transmitted infection (IMS). This means that the transmission of monkeypox is not only through sex activities.

Since the monkeypox case increased, information that the transmission of this virus was caused by sex activities at risk circulating outside the community. Yancey regretted the misinformation that monkeypox was an IMS. According to him, this misinformation is very detrimental because it makes people less vigilant.

"This provides a false sense of security for people at risk," Yancey said, quoted byHeartline.

"If people mistakenly think that this is an IMS, they will not take the necessary steps to protect themselves," he added.

The reason why monkeypox is not an IMS lies in its dominant spread. Yancey said, sexually transmitted infections mainly spread through sexual contact either oral, vaginal, or anal. However, monkeypox can be transmitted without having sex.

This disease is transmitted through skin to skin contact. You can catch monkeypox from someone without having sex with him. Just like you can catch COVID from your partner even though COVID is not an IMS. You can also catch monkeypox, even though this is not an IMS," he continued.

Meanwhile, to prevent the spread of monkeypox, the Ministry of Health said it would give vaccines to 5000 people at high risk of being exposed to the virus, as stated by Ngabila Salma.

Ngabila said, which is a group with a high risk, namely men sex with men (NGOs), pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, children, and the elderly.

"For immunizations because the number is limited to only 500 people, then the gift is for groups that are very high risk," said Ngabila in his statement, Monday (23/10).

"Given one person two doses, four weeks after. Because currently there is 1000 doses of monkeypox vaccine in Indonesia or 500 people for 500 people," Ngabila added.