Respiratory droplets represent a “minor” route of transmission of the mpox disease, a spokesman for the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday, insisting that further studies are needed to better understand the “transmission dynamics” of the virus. .
Respiratory droplets represent a way of transmission of mpox disease PHOTO Archive
According to the WHO, mpox is transmitted from person to person mainly by “close contact”.
The WHO explained that it means close contact “that skin-to-skin contact (touching or intercourse, for example), mouth-to-mouth contact and mouth-to-skin contact (kissing)“.
“And also being in front of someone (talking or breathing in close proximity and thus being in contact with infectious respiratory particles)”stated the WHO.
“If you talk to someone close, if you breathe on them, if you are physically close to them, it is possible that the droplets, if you have injuries, will spread to someone else”said a spokeswoman for the WHO, Margaret Harris, adding, however, that “it’s a minor source”.
According to the WHO, it is also possible for the virus to remain for a certain time on clothes, underwear, objects and surfaces that have been touched by an infected person.
A person who would touch them would in turn be at risk of infection if they have cuts or lesions on their skin or if they touch their eyes, nose, mouth or other mucous membranes before washing their hands.
The WHO recommends cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects, as well as washing hands after touching potentially contaminated surfaces or objects.
On the other hand, the WHO does not recommend the generalized wearing of sanitary masks.
The wearing of a sanitary mask is recommended for employees in the health sector and people in contact with a sick person, reminded Margaret Harris.
The recrudescence of mpox in Africa, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, and the appearance of a new viral variant (clade Ib) led the WHO to declare on August 14 the highest level of epidemiological alert at the international level.
