Director of Public Health, Dr. Irshad Roghani, has emphasized the importance of recognizing early symptoms of monkeypox, which include flu-like signs such as fever, headaches, muscle pain, and fatigue. These symptoms can last for one to two days.
In a public awareness message about monkeypox, Dr. Roghani explained that after one to three days of fever, a rash begins to appear, eventually spreading across the body in the form of lesions. As the body fights the infection, lymphadenopathy, or swollen lymph nodes, typically appears after the initial symptoms.
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Dr. Roghani advised that anyone showing these symptoms should immediately isolate themselves from others and seek medical consultation: "If you contract the monkeypox virus, its incubation period is quite prolonged, and it first affects the internal organs. Additionally, those who have recently traveled to areas in Central or West Africa, or parts of Europe where multiple cases of monkeypox have been reported, should promptly visit the nearest hospital for an examination."
He further added that an infected individual should avoid contact with others for up to 21 days to prevent the spread of the virus.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the mortality rate from the monkeypox virus ranges from 3.6% to 10.6%. It is crucial for anyone infected to isolate themselves until all symptoms have cleared. Afterward, items used by the patient should be thoroughly cleaned, and unnecessary materials should be properly disposed of.
