The first monkeypox infection has been detected in Sri Lanka.
The Health Ministry confirmed that the first patient has been identified as a 20-year-old youth who had arrived from Dubai on Tuesday, 1st November.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is the national public health agency of the United States, has provided information on necessary measures to be taken in the event of being infected or exposed.
Here’s what you need to know about monkeypox quarantine and isolation.
When to quarantine with monkeypox
Quarantine is what someone does when they’ve had a known exposure to an illness; Isolation is what you do when you have a confirmed infection.
There aren’t any official quarantine recommendations on what to do if you’ve been exposed to someone with monkeypox or if you suspect you have the virus.
However, one should be very careful to avoid skin-to-skin contact with other people during this time. This is a virus that is transmitted most readily in that circumstance.
If you’ve had close contact with someone with monkeypox but haven’t developed symptoms, you can also try to get the monkeypox vaccine to try to prevent yourself from getting sick.
When to isolate with monkeypox
If you have a confirmed case of monkeypox, it is recommended that you isolate yourself at home or another location to avoid spreading the virus to other people.
If you have a fever or any respiratory symptoms, including a sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough, you should stay isolated at home and away from other people and animals unless you need to see a doctor or have an emergency.
If you need to leave your home, it is suggested that you cover the lesions, wear a well-fitting mask, and avoid public transportation.
If you have a rash but no fever or respiratory symptoms, it is suggested that you cover the rash with clothes, gloves, or bandages and wear a well-fitting mask when you interact with others to avoid spreading oral and respiratory secretions.
Until you’re symptom-free, it is recommended that you do the following in isolation:
- Don’t share items that you’ve worn or handled, like linens and towels.
- Avoid close physical contact, including sexual and close intimate contact with other people.
- Don’t share utensils or cups.
- Avoid crowds.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
A few other recommendations include:
- Avoid using contact lenses to avoid accidentally infecting your eye.
- Try to avoid shaving rash-covered areas of your body, since it could cause the virus to spread.
- If possible, use a separate bathroom from other people in your household. (If you don’t have a separate bathroom, clean and disinfect surfaces after you’re done using it.)
If someone shares a house with someone without monkeypox, they really have to refrain mostly from close contact with another because it is not a very contagious infectious disease.
How long is monkeypox isolation?
People can spread monkeypox from the time symptoms start until all symptoms have resolved. Since the illness can last anywhere from two to four weeks, you could be in isolation for a while.
Technically, you’re still infectious until those lesions scab over and fall off and the exact timeline for that is different for everyone.
The isolation period of monkeypox varies depending upon the individual. It is basically for the duration that the rash is present.
In general, “when your skin looks normal again or virtually normal,” you should be OK to leave isolation. (NewsWire)