The Parish Magazine September 2022

HEALTH — 1
Dr Simon Ruffle writes . . . Monkeypox
For those of us who remember the 1980's a new illness
swept through the world and became known as the gay
plague. Discrimination and myth stalled the research and
treatment of this disease. In September 1983 a building
owner took his tenant to court because he was researching
AIDS and treating affected people in ‘their’ building. It
seems inconceivable that in this short history — author
clinging on to youth — that discrimination could rage in
Manhattan. The judge in the case, against public opinion,
stuck to the law and barred the eviction.
'This attempt to evict a distinguished researcher and clinician is
symptomatic of the hysteria that has surrounded the AIDS crisis,'
said Mr Abrams. 'Our lawsuit is a classic anti-discrimination
case and is being filed to combat this irrational prejudice.' 1
Fast forward to 2022. Hot on the back of Coronavirus a
new disease starts to spread. It is blamed on MSM people
— men who have sex with men — with haunting reminders
from the 1980's. Once myth and misinformation is spread by
sensationalist headlines and poor reporting the cork rarely
gets back in the bottle. Let us in Sonning, and surrounds, rise
above this and know what we are seeing.
CLOSE PERSONAL CONTACT
Monkeypox is not a new disease. A quick Wiki search will
show a picture of a case in 1971. Monkeypox is endemic in
the Democratic Republic of Congo and central and Western
Africa. It was first found in monkeys in 1958 in Denmark.
Outbreaks have been known in Africa for years with a low
mortality rate.
One of the first Western outbreaks occurred in 2003 in
the USA. Exotic animal importers in Midwest brought in
rodents from Ghana infected with the virus. It was passed to
their owners and a mild infection ensued.
It is spread by close personal contact with an infected
person. It passes into the body through the mucous
membranes. This is why it was believed to be a sexually
transmitted disease. Foreskin, vaginal, rectal and the mouth
are examples of membranes that are especially designed
to introduce pathogens — viruses, bacteria etc — to the
immune system to deal with it.
It can also be spread via cut abrasions and weakness in
skin. Prolonged contact is required. It is known to live in
bedding but the risk is low. Healthcare workers caring for
patients are also at risk. Skin to skin transfer has been seen.
At this time it is not known to spread by an airborne
method — it is a reliably large virus — but is found in other
bodily fluids.
SUPPORTIVE TREATMENT
Monkeypox in the UK was imported from travellers
to Nigeria, the first person to person transfer was in a
healthcare worker. 2
It is a DNA virus and causes an illness similar to
chickenpox and smallpox. Distinguishing the disease is
possible without tests. Smallpox is eradicated apart from
samples in stasis. Chickenpox rarely causes lymph node
swelling, Monkeypox does, and the lesions are generally
painful whereas chickenpox lesions are only sore if
secondarily infected or in more delicate areas. Treatment
The Parish Magazine - September 2022 35
is supportive and, as I write, only two people have died in
Europe. Both died from swelling of the brain due to cerebral
infection or secondary causes. It hasn’t been established
which.
Prevention of Monkeypox is the use of barriers such
as gloves. Condoms can help prevent but are not foolproof
as the disease is spread by skin contact other than genital.
Remember anyone can get it.
There is a vaccine which is a modified smallpox vaccine
and is in production and available to certain groups and
those that get exposed by their job.
Discrimination, bias — conscious or unconscious — and
stereotyping seriously affected the AIDS pandemic from
being researched properly. I think the science community has
grown up and the media in some areas have as well.
1 NYTimes October 1, 1983,Section 1 Pg 31
2 'Human-to-Human Transmission of Monkeypox Virus, United
Kingdom, October 2018'. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 26 (4): 782–785.
Planning Your
Traditional Wedding?
Then you might like to
discuss the possibility of
marriage in our ancient and
beautiful parish church.
If so, call the vicar, Jamie
0118 969 3298
He will be pleased to help!
In addition to the stunning and historic location in Sonning,
we will work hard to provide you with a memorable and
moving occasion. We can provide a choir, organ, peal of
eight bells, beautiful flowers, over 100 lit candles set in
ornate Victorian chandeliers and the use of our beautiful
churchyard as a backdrop for your photographs.
Church of St Andrew
Serving Sonning, Charvil & Sonning Eye
Monkeypox © Planetfelicity, dreamstime.com
the church of st andrew SERVING CHARVIL,
SONNING & sonning eye since the 7 th century