Following the World Health Organization (WHO) warning of a monkeypox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is considered a public health emergency of international concern, the disease Prevention and Control Center (SPKC) is closely monitoring the situation also in Latvia.
Monitoring systems to detect monkeypox in Latvia were already tested during the previous international outbreak in 2022, when 6 confirmed cases were reported and Europe experienced an outbreak of monkeypox.
All parties involved - GPs, specialists, hospitals, and laboratories - are being re-informed. Guidance for case recognition for medical practitioners has been published and regularly updated, and information for travelers has been updated. A vaccine is available in Latvia for at-risk groups - healthcare workers, infected persons, and contacts.
Transmission of monkeypox infection occurs from person to person through close physical contact, including sexual contact.
It spreads slowly among humans but can be contracted through prolonged contact with the person affected, touching damaged areas of skin (rashes, blisters), contact with body fluids, sharing items (bed linen, towels), and sexual contact.
Symptoms usually appear 6-13 days (up to 21 days) after infection. Clinical manifestations include generalized symptoms of fever, skin rashes and ulcers on the mucous membranes, back pain, and muscle pain. The rash can spread rapidly over the body within three days of the onset of initial symptoms. Most people experience mild to moderate symptoms, usually lasting two to four weeks, followed by a full recovery.
