Monkey pox: rising number of infected in Hungary, first test has arrived

Hungary has so far confirmed 78 cases of monkeypox, with one new infection recorded in the past week, the national public health authority (NNK) said on Friday. At the same time, a pilot quantity of professional monkeypox antigen tests from three different manufacturers was ordered by a domestic distributor.

Monkeypox does not appear to be a threat in Europe yet

Although the monkeypox virus has suddenly become the focus of attention, it does not yet appear to be a threat in Europe and other parts of the world, writes Pénzcentrum. According to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) data on 6 October, nearly 70,000 people in 107 countries around the world have been infected with the virus. In Hungary, the number of new infections has not yet reached 100. While there has not been a significant increase in Hungary, this could change at any time.

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It is good to prepare

“The virus can mutate at any time, the mode and speed of spread and the virulence of the virus can change, so it is worth preparing now and getting to know the manufacturers and diagnostic tools,” says Attila Karvalics, CEO of A-Lab Pharma, one of the leading distributors of rapid diagnostic tools in Hungary. Karvalics also reminded that the quality of diagnostic devices is constantly improving.

While the sensitivity of the first coronavirus antigen tests was only 60 percent, that of the more sensitive nasal cavity test devices is now typically around 100% at high virus concentrations. These rapid tests represent the first line of defence for infection control worldwide, alongside PCR tests.

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Tests can take the burden off healthcare providers

Among the professional tests now available are devices for cardiovascular and tumour markers, pregnancy hormones, infectious diseases, animal infections and even drugs. For home use, stool blood tests to predict colorectal cancer or even tests for Chlamydia and urinary tract infections are common. What is more, a food intolerance test will soon be available, which can detect antibody reactions to 100 different foods, napi.hu reports.