Droplets, a minor transmission route for monkeypox

Hibapress

Droplets are a “minor” route of transmission of MPOX, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday, saying further research is needed to better understand “the transmission dynamics” of the virus.

Monkeypox is spread from person to person primarily through close contact, the WHO said, adding that contact occurs through skin-to-skin, mouth-to-mouth and mouth-to-skin contact.

“If you’re talking to someone in close proximity, if you’re breathing on them, if you’re physically close to them, there’s a possibility that droplets, if you have lesions, could spread to someone else,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said at a news briefing, noting that “this is a minor source” of transmission.

Harris said understanding the dynamics of virus transmission requires “further research,” revealing that objects and surfaces used by an infected person can harbor the virus, increasing the risk of infection if contact occurs without health precautions.

In this regard, WHO recommends cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects as well as washing hands after touching potentially contaminated surfaces or objects.

Wearing a mask is only recommended for health workers and people in contact with a sick person, but does not recommend the widespread wearing of masks, according to the organization.

The WHO had recently raised the alert level to maximum due to the spread of Mpox in Africa and the emergence of a new, potentially more dangerous variant.