Last Updated on August 9, 2022 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media post claims that Monkeypox is an airborne disease and it can cause paralysis. We fact-checked and found this claim to be Mostly False.
The Claim
A post on Twitter reads, “They saying monkeypox is classified as airborne and anybody within 15 ft can get it, and it’s a form of herpes that can last up to 2-4 months and can cause possible paralysis, the world is ending, zombie apocalypse next.”
Fact Check
Is Monkeypox an airborne disease?
Not exactly. Until proven otherwise, monkeypox is not yet believed to be an airborne disease. The WHO states, “ Human-to-human transmission can result from close contact with respiratory secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or recently contaminated objects.”
The CDC clarifies the difference between airborne transmission and transmission via respiratory secretions by stating, “ Airborne transmission occurs when small virus particles become suspended in the air and can stay there for long period of time. These particles can spread on air currents or sometimes even infect people who enter a room after the infected person has left. In contrast, monkeypox may be found in droplets like saliva or respiratory secretions that quickly drop out of the air. Long range (e.g., airborne) transmission of monkeypox has not been reported.”
Dr Arvind Kumar, Director HOD, Paediatrics, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh explains, “Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by the orthopox virus. The infection is spread by touching an infected person’s rash, scabs, body fluid, sharing of clothing and bedding and also through tiny droplets from kissing and cuddling. Pregnant women can pass the disease to the baby in the uterus.”
Can monkeypox cause paralysis?
No. Till now, neither the healthcare organizations have included paralysis as a symptom of monkeypox, nor are there accounted records of paralysis as a problem associated with monkeypox. According to the WHO, the most common symptoms of monkeypox include, “Fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.” Other than these, the CDC lists other symptoms, such as “ respiratory symptoms (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough), chills, rash, etc. The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing. The rash can initially look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.”
Complications from monkeypox can include secondary skin infections, pneumonia, confusion, and eye problems. Amongst all of these, paralysis is not listed as a complication or a symptom. However, in sporadic instances, it may lead to encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that rarely may cause paralysis. Hence, further research is needed to verify the claim definitely. Until credible evidence is available, it can’t be conclusively proven that monkeypox causes paralysis.
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