Explained: Myths and reality of Monkeypox amid the rising cases globally

New Delhi: The cases of monkeypox are rising every day and the number of infected people around the world is set to touch the 800-mark. The health Security Agency of the UK recently said they are planning to designate monkeypox as a notifiable infectious disease in the coming days.

The virus has reached more than 30 countries while over 300 cases have been reported in the UK only. With the spread of cases, a few myths are going viral on the internet that could create panic among people.

However, we have brought this article for you to bust the myths and reveal the reality of the disease.

Can Monkeypox spread through the air?

Like Covid-19, the virus of monkeypox can also be airborne, according to the report in the New York Times, quoting experts.

In a conversation with the leading daily, the experts gave an example of the incident in Nigerian prison. In 2017, an outbreak of monkeypox was reported here when a person suffering from the disease infected prisoners and healthcare workers after coming into contact with them.

However, it is not clear whether wearing masks can stop the disease from transmission. It is said that on occasion the monkeypox virus can be transmitted through aerosols like SARS-Cov-2.

Can Monkeypox be passed on to fetuses from the mother? 

In a large study, conducted in Congo on at least 216 women infected with the disease, researchers found 4 out 5 pregnant women suffered miscarriages. They also found traces of the virus in the fetuses.

False claims and myths about Monkeypox

On social media, many people said monkeypox is a side-effect of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

Dismissing the claim, Gachon University Gil Medical Center’s infectious disease expert Professor Eom Jung-Shik said that there is proof that vaccines can generate new viruses inside the human body and cause monkeypox.