Monkeypox Is Fatal in 3-6% of Cases 醫揭猴痘「三大危險因子」 死亡率3%至6%

According to WHO statistics, over 4,000 monkeypox cases have been reported worldwide so far, including Taiwan. One doctor says the three main risk factors for monkeypox are unsafe sex, contact with an infected person, and traveling to affected areas.

Taiwan confirmed its first imported case of monkeypox on June 24. One doctor says monkeypox symptoms include boils or rashes all over the body one to three days after a fever. Monkeypox is mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract and mucus membranes. Clinical studies have identified three main risk factors, including unsafe sex, contact with an infected person, and traveling to affected areas. Monkeypox is fatal in 3-6 percent of patients.

Lee Chien-chang, Emergency Medicine Doctor, NTU Hospital: “In the later stages, monkeypox can cause pneumonia or meningitis or even neurological or eye infections. Severe symptoms often lead to death.”

Doctors say monkeypox and smallpox are both rare diseases that spread from animals to humans or vice versa. The smallpox vaccine can help protect against monkeypox, but smallpox vaccines are no longer produced as it was eradicated in 1980. Taiwan stopped administering smallpox vaccines in 1979, which means some people over 43 may be vaccinated. However, the antibody level after all this time is unknown.

Huang Li-min, Honorary Chair, Infectious Diseases Society of Taiwan: “The first thing is increasing vigilance if you've been exposed. If you see even one or two blisters, you should see a doctor.”

According to World Health Organization statistics, over 4,000 monkeypox cases have been reported worldwide so far. Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control says monkeypox is not as infectious as COVID-19 and most people that get had close or intimate contact with an infected person. Taiwan is looking into purchasing third-generation smallpox vaccines and antiviral drugs, but is not recommending mass smallpox vaccination at this time.

國內出現首例境外移入猴痘確診個案，有醫師表示，猴痘常見症狀為發燒1至3天後，全身長出水泡和皮疹，和天花類似，主要是透過呼吸道和黏膜近距離接觸傳染，臨床上有三大危險因子，包括沒有戴保險套進行不安全性行為，接觸確診者以及疫區旅行。醫師並提出警告，猴痘也有演變成重症的可能，死亡率約3%到6%。

台大急診醫學部醫師李建璋指出：「猴痘到後期，它也可能會變成肺炎、腦炎，有些人甚至會引起神經的感染和眼睛的感染，這些都是會導致演變成重症死亡的原因。」

醫師表示，猴痘與天花都屬於正痘病毒，為罕見的人畜共通傳染病，天花疫苗對猴痘具有交叉保護效果，但是天花在1980年被消滅後，全球都停止接種天花疫苗，台灣則是在1979年起停止接種。到底國內43歲以上、曾接種過天花疫苗者，體內還剩下多少抗體，不得而知。

台灣感染症醫學會名譽理事長黃立民表示：「第一個，要提高確診者本身的警覺性啦，如果自己身上有看到有水泡，即使一兩顆都要去看一下醫生，看看是不是有猴痘的可能性。」

世衛組織統計，今年五月中旬英國出現首例猴痘案例後，全球至今已超過4千例猴痘通報個案，不過我國疾管署強調，猴痘傳播力不像新冠肺炎高，確診者大多是與陽性個案親密接觸、或不安全性行為，或是照顧確診者的醫護，因此將洽購第三代天花疫苗及抗病毒藥物，但不建議民眾，大規模接種天花疫苗。