Doctor Adrian Marinescu, medical director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr. Matei Balș”, emphasizes that monkeypox (mpox) was also present in the past in Europe and Romania. He warns that although the World Health Organization has issued alerts regarding this disease, it is not necessary to fear a new pandemic, but to be cautious.
Monkey pox was also present in the past in Europe and in Romania – Photo Archive
“I would say that it is not a big danger, we should not think that another pandemic will come or that it will be a difficult situation. It’s just that prudent thinking must exist. Of course, we can ask ourselves why monkey pox, an old disease, which we have been talking about since the 1970s – the first case was also in the Congo – why are we talking more now? Because, however, the number of cases in the African continent is definitely higher. The question arises: if it is only a prolonged contact, a direct contact, why are there more cases? and, in fact, the warning of the World Health Organization goes from here. That is, it must be prudent thinking“, said Adrian Marinescu, on Sunday, on Antena 3, according to News.ro.
The doctor stated that, initially, the monkey pox can be confused with the symptoms of a cold or the flu, but later there is a rash characterized by blisters, usually located in the genital area. He also pointed out that the transmission of the disease “not easily done”.
“Transmission through coughing and sneezing is extremely difficult, only a contact that is extremely prolonged, but a direct contact with a person who is clearly sick can lead to the disease. Most of them, indeed, have mild forms and nothing happens, only that, unfortunately, there are also complications“, stated Dr. Adrian Marinescu.
Adrian Marinescu emphasized that, although monkeypox was also present in the past in Europe and Romania, the cases were extremely rare.
“We had cases of monkeypox (in Europe – no) in the past years as well, here we are really discussing a variant that we can call new, 1B, it does not mean that it is different from what it was before. We have had isolated cases including in Romania and in the years that have passed, but they were extremely rare. The problem is not that there is a case in Sweden, if in Europe we will have more cases, as is happening when speaking of the dynamics in Africa. I believe that this will not happen and that the measures we can take now, including vaccination, should help us effectively“, said Adrian Marinescu.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) raised the risk level for mpox from “low” to “moderate” on Friday, a day after international health authorities confirmed the first infection with a new strain of the virus in Sweden, outside of Africa.
