Healthcare to step up epidemiological surveillance for monkeypox

Healthcare to step up epidemiological surveillance for monkeypox

Condavision TV | Provinces | 11:00 am

Andalusia will update the epidemiological surveillance protocols for monkeypox (monkeypox) and carry out a risk assessment in accordance with the agreement reached in the Public Health Commission. The goal is therefore to strengthen surveillance by identifying clades (organisms with a common root) in both diagnosed cases and those diagnosed in recent weeks.

The Director General of Public Health and Pharmaceutical Administration of the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs of the Government of Andalusia, Jorge del Diego, participated in a meeting of the Public Health Commission of the Ministry of Health, where the situation was reviewed. . mpox with the aim of strengthening the actions for diagnosis, prevention and control of this disease.

Likewise, Andalusia, together with the rest of the communities and the Ministry of Health, will update the recommendations for travelers to risk areas in international vaccination centers, which depend on the community, with updated information for specific groups and focused on those traveling to affected countries.

Vaccination

An active recruitment campaign is already underway in the health centres of the Andalusian Health Service (SAS) to recruit people who have received pre-exposure prophylaxis but have not completed their vaccination to receive a second dose of the vaccine.

Currently, pre-exposure vaccination is indicated for people who engage in risky sexual practices, primarily but not exclusively GBHSH (gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men). In addition, people at occupational risk should be vaccinated, such as health care workers in STI/HIV clinics, people with high-risk practices and laboratory personnel who handle samples potentially contaminated with monkeypox virus or personnel responsible for disinfecting surfaces in specific areas where risky sexual practices occur without appropriate personal protective equipment or where an incident has occurred while using it.

In the case of post-exposure prophylaxis, i.e. to prevent infection after contact with an infected person, it is indicated for persons who have had close contact with confirmed cases, as well as for healthcare and laboratory workers who have had contact with confirmed cases and who have used PPE. In these cases, a single dose is recommended.