• Slide 1 of 18: Monkeypox has set off all the alarms around the globe. The World Health Organization has warned about the rapid expansion of the virus in Europe and the United States, being responsible for several deaths. However, there are many myths and rumors around monkeypox that are important to dispel.
  • Slide 2 of 18: How do you get infected? After all, monkeypox is different from coronavirus. Close contact is necessary for contagion to occur. The WHO has stated that “it spreads from person to person through direct contact with someone who has a skin rash of monkeypox”.

    How do you get monkeypox?

    How do you get infected? After all, monkeypox is different from coronavirus. Close contact is necessary for contagion to occur. The WHO has stated that “it spreads from person to person through direct contact with someone who has a skin rash of monkeypox”.

  • Slide 3 of 18: It is through close physical contact (skin to skin, kissing, making love) that the risk of infection is highest. The skin rash sores are the most likely source of infection.

    skin to skin

    It is through close physical contact (skin to skin, kissing, making love) that the risk of infection is highest. The skin rash sores are the most likely source of infection.

  • Slide 4 of 18: The World Health Organization assumes that contagion can occur “when an infectious person touches clothing, bedding, towels, objects, electronics, and surfaces. Someone else who touches these items can then become infected.  It is also possible to become infected from breathing in skin flakes or virus from clothing, bedding, or towels. This is known as fomite transmission”.

    Can you get monkeypox from touching surfaces?

    The World Health Organization assumes that contagion can occur “when an infectious person touches clothing, bedding, towels, objects, electronics, and surfaces. Someone else who touches these items can then become infected.  It is also possible to become infected from breathing in skin flakes or virus from clothing, bedding, or towels. This is known as fomite transmission”.

  • Slide 5 of 18: However, many experts believe that the risk of getting monkeypox through objects or clothing is relatively little. The epidemiologist Saskia Popescu, consulted by The New York Times, stated that  “personally, I’m less concerned with trying clothing on in the store”. Image: Burgess Milner/Unplash

    Don’t panic

    However, many experts believe that the risk of getting monkeypox through objects or clothing is relatively little. The epidemiologist Saskia Popescu, consulted by The New York Times, stated that  “personally, I’m less concerned with trying clothing on in the store”.

  • Slide 6 of 18: Likewise, according to the experts consulted by The New York Times, it is unlikely to become infected by opening a door or touching an object with a non-porous surface. Image: Super Snapper / Unsplash

    Very unlikely to get infected by opening a door

    Likewise, according to the experts consulted by The New York Times, it is unlikely to become infected by opening a door or touching an object with a non-porous surface.

  • Slide 7 of 18: Although the WHO agrees that is possible for the virus to spread through droplets from skin rashes, unlike the coronavirus, airborne transmission is not possible except in short-range cases.

    Key difference between monkeypox and Covid-19

    Although the WHO agrees that is possible for the virus to spread through droplets from skin rashes, unlike the coronavirus, airborne transmission is not possible except in short-range cases.

  • Slide 8 of 18: The risk of infection from short-range droplets or spread from the air reduces if we keep a distance from infected individuals (at least 10 feet or about three meters) and wear proper face masks.

    Reducing monkeypox risk

    The risk of infection from short-range droplets or spread from the air reduces if we keep a distance from infected individuals (at least 10 feet or about three meters) and wear proper face masks.

  • Slide 9 of 18: Of course, large gatherings with massive crowds such as concerts and parties are places where the risk of catching monkeypox increases. Image: Yvette de Wit/Unsplash

    Crowds are a problem

    Of course, large gatherings with massive crowds such as concerts and parties are places where the risk of catching monkeypox increases.

  • Slide 10 of 18: In any case, the WHO admits that “possible mechanisms of transmission through the air for monkeypox are not yet well understood and studies are underway to learn more”.

    More questions than answers

    In any case, the WHO admits that “possible mechanisms of transmission through the air for monkeypox are not yet well understood and studies are underway to learn more”.