DOCTORS are being briefed and treatment measures are being put in place to deal with any cases of monkeypox diagnosed in Jersey, the director of public health has said.
Although no instances of the infection have been picked up to date, the number of cases in the UK has risen sharply and prompted new advice from Professor Peter Bradley about measures being established to protect Islanders.
Professor Bradley said that Island GPs had been given specific advice about how to deal with monkeypox, including options for testing and vaccination, as well as treatment with antibiotics.
Most cases of the infection could be treated in patients’ homes, he added, but said that the General Hospital was ready if required to treat cases where necessary.
There was currently no legal requirement for those with concerns to isolate, Professor Bradley said, although he explained this position could change should the virus reach Jersey. He said isolation would be a sensible precaution for those with concerns prior to receiving advice from their GP or the Sexual Health Clinic.
He said: ‘Normally people can stay at home and the infection will not lead to major illness, but we are planning how hospital treatment would be provided for the rare cases where this is required.
‘We are monitoring the situation and working closely with our counterparts in the UK – as it develops we will be looking to ensure Jersey has access to the same types of treatment in the UK, as was the case during the Covid-19 pandemic.’
Professor Bradley said there were key signs that helped distinguish monkeypox from chickenpox. He said: ‘Whereas chickenpox usually starts with a rash on the body, monkeypox starts on the face and then spreads down the body and involves the genital area.’
Swollen lymph nodes, with a swelling the size of a pea on either side of the neck, or above the genitals, was another indication the virus was present, he added.
Islanders who are concerned that they could have been affected are asked to telephone their GP, or call the Sexual Health Clinic at the General Hospital on 442856.
Professor Bradley said that calling in advance was the preferred option, rather than going to a GP surgery or attending the Hospital in person, as this enabled patients to be given immediate advice over the phone and safe arrangements to be put in place to see a clinician.
Maria Van Kerkhove, of the World Health Organisation, said more cases were likely on a global scale, but that medics had tools to stop the virus.
She said: ‘This is a containable situation, particularly in the countries where we are seeing these outbreaks that are happening across Europe, and in North America as well – we can stop human-to-human transmission.’
Monkeypox facts
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Monkeypox can be caught from infected wild animals in parts of west and central Africa, and is thought to be spread by rodents, such as rats, mice and squirrels.
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It is possible to catch the virus through being bitten by an infected animal or touching its blood, body fluids, spots, blisters or scabs.
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Infection could also take place as a result of eating meat from an infected animal that has not been cooked thoroughly, or by touching other products from infected animals (such as skin or fur).
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The virus does not usually spread easily between people, but can be passed on through close person-to-person contact.
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Symptoms of monkeypox include a high temperature, a headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen glands, shivering (chills) and exhaustion, with a rash usually appearing between one and five days after the initial symptoms.
