Biologist explained to Tula how monkey smallpox is transmitted and whether it should be feared

Cases of monkeypox in Russia are so far isolated and are imported. This was told by Doctor of Biological Sciences, Head of the Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Humans and Animals by A. I. Herzen Ekaterin Nikitin.

According to the press service of the university, initially the infection was associated with animals: outbreaks occurred in Africa, and in 2003 in the United States people were infected from meadow dogs, which, in turn, picked up the virus from rats brought from Africa. Human-to-human transmission has recently emerged.

According to Nikitina, this year the first cases in Russia were in people who returned from Thailand, so the risk of importation remains.

The virus is transmitted by contact and airborne droplets, but there is no pandemic situation in the world due to the singularity of cases: the expert does not see a serious threat to Russia, there is no specific vaccine against monkeypox yet, although development in Russia is underway.

Earlier, “MK in Tula” reported that during the cold season you need to observe respiratory etiquette. As explained in the Tula Rospotrebnadzor, when coughing and sneezing, you should turn away from people and use a disposable handkerchief, and if it is not, cover your mouth with an elbow or sleeve.