Smallpox of monkeys, the first case in Siena: it is the second in Tuscany

First case of monkeypox in the province of Siena, the second in Tuscany. It was identified at the Sienese university hospital (Aous) on a patient who had returned from a trip abroad and who went to the hospital last weekend because he had various symptoms. The patient, explains the Sienese Aou in a note, had suspicious skin lesions and the emergency room staff, after consulting with the infectious disease specialist, performed further diagnostic investigations, performed by the Microbiology and Virology laboratory directed by Professor Maria Grazia Cusi. Tests gave positive results for monkeypox. The patient is now hospitalized in isolation in the Infectious and Tropical Diseases ward, directed by Professor Mario Tumbarello and, a few days after admission, he is in stable condition. The professionals who took care of the patient, the Aou points out in the note, used all the attentions and precautions aimed at preventing contagion, always active in the hospital as anti-Covid measures. As usual, the Prevention Department of the Southeast Tuscany Usl Company was also alerted. “First of all, I would like to thank our professionals for the prompt and immediate response to the case – underlines the medical director of Aou Senese, Francesca De Marco – High fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes are the first initial symptoms of the disease which are joined by skin lesions and blisters. Human-to-human transmission – explains De Marco – occurs through close contact with fluids and infected material from the skin lesions of an infected person, or through droplets in case of prolonged face-to-face contact. Furthermore, the virus can be transmitted by direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person. 19, it is necessary to pay attention to contaminated objects, such as clothing, sheets or towels, as well as obviously to event such coughs and sneezing. Also in this case – she concludes – the anti-contagion protocols must be carefully respected “.