Islamabad, Aug 17: Health specialist Saturday called for heightened public awareness and community participation in the efforts to contain Monkeypox, highlighting key strategies such as early identification, isolation and collective action.
Professor Dr. Ashar Mashhood talking to the PTV New said that as the world grapples with the Monkeypox outbreak and emphasis on public awareness, community engagement and accurate information highlight the importance of a collective response to the outbreak. “By working together, we can contain the spread of Monkeypox and protect our communities”, he added.
Responding to a query, he explained, “Monkeypox is a viral (zoonotic) disease (a virus transmitted to humans from animals), adding that it is caused by the monkeypox virus which belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family”.
Dr. Mashhood further said that the primary mode of transmission of Monkeypox is through close contact with infected animals, such as rodents, primates and other wild animals. He added that this can occur through handling or consuming meat from infected animals or through contact with contaminated animal products.
He emphasized the importance of proper handling and cooking of animal products to prevent the transmission of the virus.In addition to animal-to-human transmission, Dr. Mashhood noted that Monkeypox can be spread through human-to-human contact.This can occur through respiratory droplets, such as those produced by coughing or sneezing, or through contact with infected bodily fluids or skin lesions, he said.
He stressed the importance of practising good hygiene, such as frequent hand-washing and wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), to prevent the transmission of the virus.The expert also highlighted the importance of early detection and isolation of cases to prevent the spread of Monkeypox.He noted that symptoms of the virus can include fever, headache, muscle aches, and skin lesions and that prompt medical attention is essential for effective treatment and prevention of complications.
