Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Health hasrecommended people to follow six measures to protect themselves from monkeypox, as Vietnam announced the first case of the disease on October 3.

The measures include covering nose and mouth whencoughing or sneezing, and washing hands often with soap and water or usingan alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Meanwhile, people with an acute rash of unknown cause,accompanied by one or more suspected symptoms, should contact a medicalfacility for monitoring and counselling. At the same time, it is also necessaryfor them to self-isolate and avoid sex.

People are advised to avoid close and skin-to-skin contact withmonkeypox-infected people and with infected objects and utensils.

People travelling to countries with monkeypox outbreaksshould avoid contact with mammals (dead or alive) such as rodents andmarsupials as they may contain the virus.

Ensuring food safety, practicing a healthy lifestyle, andincreasing physical activities are also recommended.

As of October 3, there were 68,265 monkeypox cases logged in 106 nationsworldwide, including 25 deaths.  

Monkeypox can be spread from animals to humans and humans tohumans, and in some cases cause skin infection, pneumonia, eye problems, andeven death. The disease tends to be more severe in children, pregnant women orimmunocompromised people.

The incubation period is 5 to 21 days (usually 6 to 13days). Monkeypox has symptoms similar to smallpox but differs in its systemicskin lesions and enlarged lymph nodes.

The main symptoms are rash and one or more of the followingsymptoms: 38-degree or higher fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache, musclepain, back pain, and asthenia./.