A traveler with skin problems on her face as a result was first taken off the plane and then asked to present a medical certificate confirming that her rash — eczema is not contagious. She was allowed back on board only after she took out a tube of prescribed cream for eczema.
However, even after that, one of the flight attendants, seeing our heroine, quickly turned around and went in the opposite direction, avoiding looking at her, “as if I were Medusa Gorgon, and through eye contact the disease could spread.”
” “Disinformation leads to discrimination and hostility”, — commented on the incident innocent. “Anyone who has a non-contagious skin disease in prominent places can expect anything, anywhere.”
Last month, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern,” but officials on the ground reassured the public that the risk of airborne transmission was incredibly low.
For many years, human cases of monkeypox have been observed mainly in Central and West Africa, but over 16,000 cases have been identified in 75 countries and territories in recent months. Only a few deaths have been reported so far.
During the current outbreak, most cases have been in men who have sex with men, but monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection and may be at risk any person.
According to doctors, monkeypox is usually spread by close, personal, often skin contact, including intimate contact, as well as hugging and prolonged face-to-face touching.
Monkeypox can also be spread by any other direct skin contact with scabs or skin lesions, or by touching tissues or objects that have been used by a person with monkeypox.
For this reason, some experts suggest to travelers who are concerned about the possibility catch monkeypox, wear trousers and long-sleeved shirts in public places, including in the cabin of an aircraft.