The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States has officially confirmed a case of monkeypox in a resident of Maryland, who recently returned home from Nigeria.
The CDC is coordinating with international health partners, airlines, and state and local health officials in the Washington D.C. area to notify passengers and others who may have been in contact with the infected individual.
The risk of monkeypox virus spreading through respiratory droplets on airplanes is low. (Image credit: CDC USA).
According to the CDC, with the mask mandate on flights to prevent the spread of Covid-19, scientists believe that the risk of monkeypox virus transmission through respiratory droplets on airplanes is low. However, the CDC is “assessing potential risks” among close contacts of the patient both during the flight and after their arrival in the U.S.
Meanwhile, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) reported that the patient is experiencing mild symptoms, does not require hospitalization, and is currently in isolation. The Maryland Department of Health also stated that the individual and any exposed contacts will be monitored for 21 days. In a statement, Dr. Jinlene Chan, the Deputy Secretary for Public Health, emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong public health infrastructure through close coordination with CDC officials.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), monkeypox is a rare viral disease, with most cases occurring in remote regions of Central and West Africa. This virus exists in animal bodies, including primates and rodents, but can sometimes spread from animals to humans. The virus is transmitted from person to person primarily through contact with respiratory droplets, which can enter the body through mucous membranes in the eyes, mouth, and nose. Additionally, monkeypox can also spread when an infected person comes into contact with the wounds or bodily fluids of another infected individual.
