Monkeypox may be the kiss of death for ‘prolonged face-to-face’ contact

By Eamonn Ryan

The country gave a sigh of relief when physical in-person events were reintroduced barely a month ago – and many of us are preparing to attend this week’s Big 5 Construction expo, incorporating among others, Totally Concrete. Many are therefore anxious about the similarity of the recent outbreak of monkeypox and that of Covid-19 two and a half years ago. However, the similarities are few and there are no threats to either travel or in-person events. However, health officials do suggest people avoid “prolonged face-to-face” contact with anyone known to be affected by monkeypox.

On a recent webinar in India, Dr Vikram Vora, director: Indian sub-continent fort International SOS gave a summary of the impact of the outbreak on the corporate world.

Just as the world is emerging from Covid-19, a new threat in the form of monkeypox is demonstrating how we are living in an era of increasing health concerns and pandemic type diseases. This should be of immediate concern to the business world.

Monkeypox is currently defined as simply an outbreak, not yet an epidemic and certainly not a pandemic or global event. However, given the world is primed with the recent lessons learned from Covid-19, the hope is that if necessary we can respond quickly by collaborating, sharing information and offering guidance.

Monkeypox may consequently be a litmus test as to whether the corporate and healthcare world has learned anything from its recent experiences. It was Covid earlier, monkeypox today – but one can’t let down one’s guard down against whatever else the 21st Century has in store for us.

As at 5 June, there had been 780 confirmed cases of monkeypox in countries where the virus is not usually found, the World Health Organization said. That is roughly triple the 257 cases it reported a week earlier. There have been no deaths in non-endemic areas as the virus only has a 1-3% fatality rate in endemic areas (West and Central Africa). The virus is spreading not because it is highly transmissible, or is mutating, but simply because travel restrictions are being lifted – which makes businesspeople susceptible, especially any travelling with no knowledge of where they’re going and what risks they may find there.

Monkeypox isn’t a new disease. It was first discovered in monkeys over 50 years ago, with the first human case found in the DRC in 1970. The virus is endemic in animals and their environment in several countries in Africa, occasionally spilling over from animals into humans, and now, human to human.

Dr Vora advises as follows: “Companies would consequently be advised to protect their essential business travellers who need to travel to endemic areas by implementing a risk assessment, and health incident planning. An assessment would minimally consist of:

• Understanding the risks associated with the country being visited
• What travel restrictions exist in which countries, as such restrictions may be imminent
• Know the healthcare facilities and quarantine facilities in the destination country”.

So far, the world’s response has been rapid. Vaccines and other countermeasures are being deployed. The strategy of firstly staying informed and raising awareness remains valid in this evolving situation. Even at this early stage there is misinformation. For businesses, their advice to staff ought to include seeking advice early. Hygiene measures, appropriate isolation, contact tracing and quarantine are all still useful, but there are not expected to be further travel restrictions because unlike Covid it is not a highly transmissible virus. “Social distancing is much less important as one has to be in quite close proximity to an affected individual for it to spread. Physical in-person events, which are currently resuming, need only implement to same precautions as for Covid-19.

“The treatment of monkeypox is the alleviation of symptoms. With the immune system already compromised, the risk of bacterial infection is heightened. Maintaining a person’s strength is achieved simply by fluid intake and eating, as the disease is not particularly severe.

“Monkey pox is of the same genus as smallpox, and both vaccinations and medication exist. However, as smallpox was eradicated in the 1970s, these are no longer readily available and would only be generally released if the need arises. Anyone born before the late 1970s and consequently vaccinated at birth against smallpox, will have 85% protection from monkeypox,” says Dr Vora.

“Given the main transmitters of the virus are animals, particularly rodents such as rats, preventative measures against the virus would include avoiding dead carcasses of animals that have died of no known cause. Otherwise, known infected persons should be isolated in the usual fashion, and within their environment masks worn.

“Travel even to endemic countries currently has a low risk. However, some countries such as Belgium are beginning to introduce quarantine rules for people known to be infected, and this may shortly be increased to screening for symptoms at international arrivals at airports, and there may be isolation facilities specifically for monkeypox.

“In respect of working from the office, the hygiene rules which have slowly been eased should probably be resumed. In areas of shared accommodation, linen should not be shared and should be frequently washed, while prolonged face-to-face contact should be avoided.

“People should make themselves aware of all information relating to monkeypox from reputable sites, and International SOS has such a site at: pandemic/internationalsos.com/diseases/monkeypox,” says Dr Vora.