CDC not considering mass vaccination against monkeypox in Latvia

RIGA - Mass vaccination against monkeypox is not being considered at the moment, Jurijs Perevoscikovs, director of the Infectious Diseases Risk Analysis and Prevention Department at the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), told Delfi.lv. 

The expert indicated that the virus causing monkeypox spreads through close contacts. Monkeypox is a droplet infection, and like in the case of chickenpox, all body fluids of an infected person are infectious, especially those inside the skin rash or bumps typical of the disease. 

Perevoscikovs said that although hundreds of monkeypox cases have been reported in various countries lately, the likelihood of meeting an infected person is still very low. Also, a sick person will probably be staying at home or limiting contacts with others in some other way. 

The CDC representative recommended avoiding contacts with people showing monkeypox symptoms and washing hands as the surest prevention. 

As reported, Latvia has recorded its first two cases of monkeypox,

The CDC is conducting an epidemiological investigation of these cases. Both patients had had similar infection risks outside Latvia, the CDC informed. 

According to the CDC, Latvia's first monkeypox patient, an adult under 50 years of age, is experiencing mild symptoms of the illness. The person contracted the virus in a foreign country and is currently under medical observation.

The second monkeypox patient is also an adult under 50 years of age. The patient is displaying mild symptoms and has been placed under medical observation. The CDC has organized standard measures to prevent the infection from spreading. The epidemiological investigation is ongoing, the CDC said.