After a preview of monkeypox cases in Lebanon was announced, a lot of information circulated, especially about the vaccine and treatment methods.
Dr. Naji Aoun, a specialist in bacterial and infectious diseases, confirms that the smallpox vaccine protects by 85%, meaning that it can prevent its transmission or reduce symptoms in the event of infection with the disease.
He added in an interview with MTV that if a person received the smallpox vaccine in childhood, he/she must undergo a blood test, available in Lebanon, to show whether the immunity rate is weak or still strong.
Noting that in the event of weak immunity, it is necessary to re-vaccinate, contrary to what is rumored that the smallpox vaccine must be received once throughout a person’s life.
Dr. Aoun points out that the vaccine is not found in Lebanon. It is available in the United States and in European countries and is placed in places designated for it.
Accordingly, he advises those who are infected with Monkeypox to undergo the necessary medical examinations by an inflammatory disease specialist, which could show the extent of the effect of Monkeypox on the body, provided that the treatment is according to the degree of the disease.
He asserts that those with low immunity may need to be hospitalized in order to obtain medications that support treatment.
The isolation period should be about 21 days, and this stage ends when symptoms such as fever, cough, and sores in the body disappear.
As for the methods of prevention, Dr. Aoun explains that they are the same ones that were approved to prevent the Coronavirus, which is by washing hands and putting on a mask.
Dr. Aoun is certain that the hospital sector in Lebanon is able to confront the spread of the Monkeypox because the means of preventing it are very similar to the means of preventing the Coronavirus.
