Monkeypox: Children are at higher risk, says expert
SHAH ALAM - Monkeypox disease can lead to a death rate of up to six per cent among children, compared to adults due to various infection complications.
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Virologist Professor Dr Zamberi Sekawi said among the complications that can occur were secondary infections, bronchopneumonia, sepsis and brain infections as well as corneal infections that eventually lead to vision loss.
"Although it can heal on its own within two to four weeks, more serious and protracted cases can occur in children.
"This includes higher death rates among children, compared to adults, between three to six per cent," he said when contacted by Sinar on Friday.
On Thursday, the United States (US) confirmed a case of the virus in a man who had just returned from visiting Canada, after European health officials confirmed dozens of similar cases earlier this week.
Dr Zamberi said so far no more cases involving monkeypox have been reported in Malaysia and only occurred in Central and West Africa, close to tropical rainforests.
"Although we have not recorded any case involving the disease, the risk is still there. "Therefore, symptom monitoring may be necessary, but not as active as Covid-19,” he said.
When asked about the signs of a person being infected with monkeypox, Dr Zamberi said, among them were fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen glands and rashes all over the body.
"We do not have specific treatment.
"There is only the symptomatic treatment where a person just needs to rest, drink more water and get antipyretic drugs such as paracetamol to relieve fever and body aches,” he said.
On the same matter, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has confirmed that there has been no cases of monkeypox reported in the country.
He stressed that all parties were asked not to speculate on the case.
"Do not make a fuss, we have yet to record any case of monkeypox," he said.
He said the Health Ministry was taking public health measures as a prevention strategy.
"Act 342 is used for the prevention and control of infectious diseases," he added.
Previously, several countries in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain and Canada were reported to have detected cases of the monkeypox disease.
It also sparked concern among the public as the disease usually only occurred in West and Central Africa, rarely spreading elsewhere.
The virus is spread through close contact either from animal hosts, while more rarely among humans.
It was first found in monkeys around 1958, hence the name, although rats were now seen as the main source of transmission.
