This past week, I went to a national meeting on infectious diseases. It was fantastic to be at the first meeting in-person since before the pandemic. And medical conferences are great places to share ideas and research. So, let’s update you on three infectious diseases that have been grabbing headline this past week:
1. #Covid – No, the #pandemic still isn’t over. New Omicron variant BA.4 has been found in Ireland. The ECDC recently upgraded BA.4 and BA.5 to variants of concern. We don’t have any evidence that this makes the virus any more transmissible or severe yet. However, widespread virus still impacts on our healthcare, economy, and schools. (If you are wondering what the experts do? Even in a room where everyone is triple vaccinated and regularly antigen-tested – yes, we all wore masks for the conference.)
2. #Monkeypox – So, let’s just put some facts out there. It’s a funny name but can be a serious disease. It is usually found in areas of Africa. What is unusual is that we have a number of cases in Europe, Australia, and North America. How is this different than Covid? Well, it’s not new (Portugal sequenced the virus last week and matches previous genomic sequencing from 2018). It’s more stable than coronavirus – so lasts longer in the environment. It can be transmitted through respiratory droplets or if the virus comes in contact with eyes, mouth, nose. It also can be sexually transmitted (which is currently the working theory about how many cases in this latest outbreak were transmitted.) Monkey pox is similar but less severe than the now-eradicated smallpox. The are safe and effective vaccines available already that have been used. The disease causes Fever/chills, Headache, Muscle/back ache, Swollen lymph nodes. Then 1 to 3 days later, a rash that turns into little fluid filled bumps develops, often beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the body, usually including palms and soles. Some of the recent cases of the lesions on their genitals or mouths. Like chickenpox, these will scab over and fall off. This disease is milder than smallpox, but more severe than chickenpox. Risk factors currently identified in this series of outbreaks are travel to West Africa, men who have sex with men (new or casual partner), or contact with a known case.
3. #hepatitis of unknown origin in children. I’m including this in infectious disease update, even though we still don’t have an infectious cause for this yet. We do know that it is NOT connected to the covid vaccines (the vast majority of children affected are not vaccinated). Globally, there have now been 614 cases including 14 deaths (1 in Ireland). Around 75% are under 5 years old. Around 14% need ICU care. Around 12% have required liver transplant. Many do recover. We simply do not have a cause for this yet, despite an ongoing global effort looking for a cause or virus.
If you are worried about any of these, remember that the basics are important (though everyone is so tired hearing about them): good #handhygiene, cover your cough/sneezes, stay home from work/school if you are unwell, and practice #safesex. Masks are still recommended (just not mandated) in many environments, including public transport and still required in healthcare settings.
Resources you can trust when you see these diseases grabbing headlines or in #clickbait? The HPSC and ECDC website updates or reporting in TheJournal.ie
#FactsNotFears
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