Monkeypox: misinformation also kills

Monkeys are being found dead or showing signs of poisoning in regions of the country.

It is suspected that the animals were attacked by the population due to the increasing number of cases of monkey smallpox. 

But did you know that they pose no risk in the current outbreak of the disease?

Although the name of the disease refers to the animal, this is due to the initial discovery of the virus in monkeys in a Danish laboratory in 1958.

However, the animal reservoir – that is, the one that carries the virus without showing clinical signs – remains unknown, although it is likely to be among rodents, according to the World Health Organizationsystem. (WHO*)

In the current outbreak of the disease, transmission of the virus occurs from person to person through close contact with injuries, bodily fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials, such as bedding and towels.

In a statement made to G1, the Brazilian Society of Primatology clarified that “the current outbreak does not involve monkeys in transmission to humans. All transmissions identified to date by health agencies around the world have been attributed to person-to-person transmission.”system. (G1)

The entity also highlighted that monkeys are victims like us (humans) and that the fear of contagion through the transmission of this and other diseases, such as yellow fever, due to proximity to animals is not justified.

The Brazilian Society of Primatology asks that – if you have a monkey and, due to fear of this disease, you do not feel comfortable keeping it – hand the animal over to the competent bodies, IBAMA or Wild Animal Screening Center – CETAS, even if it is not of legal origin.

Curto curation:

• Understand why monkeys are not a risk in the current smallpox outbreak (CNN)
• Five monkeys are found dead after cases of monkeypox in SP (Folha de S. Paul)🚥
• Government of SP announces plan to combat monkeypox

Featured photo: Reproduction/Flickr

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(🇬🇧): content in English

(*): content in other languages ​​is translated by Google Tradutor