Suspected cases of monkeypox in Thailand confirmed with herpes

Some herpes viruses also cause symptoms similar to monkeypox, including sores that then scab over and fall off. However, the herpes virus belongs to a completely different family of viruses from the virus that causes monkeypox.

Earlier, Mr. Anutin attended the 75th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, and asked the World Health Organization (WHO) to assist Thailand in securing supplies. vaccines smallpox prevention.

Most people over the age of 55 have been vaccinated against smallpox (which was eliminated in 1980). Vaccinated people maintain high levels of immunity against smallpox and monkeypox – both of which are in the same family of viruses.

According to Dr. Somsak Lolekha, a famous Thai pediatrician, monkeypox will not become a major risk to health community, because most Thais have been vaccinated against smallpox. Studies in Africa show that the smallpox vaccine provides at least 85% protection against monkeypox throughout life.

Thailand and many other countries stopped using the common smallpox vaccine when the WHO declared the virus eradicated in 1980, due to the risk of serious side effects in people with compromised immune systems. harmful.

More than 225 cases of monkeypox have been recorded in 20 countries around the world. However, epidemiologists say it is highly unlikely that monkeypox will become a pandemic due to its low transmissibility, the high rate of people vaccinated against smallpox worldwide and the high effectiveness of the vaccine. smallpox disease.