Dental Vigilance: Our Critical Role in Monkeypox Emergency

English

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The World Health Organisation’s August 2024 declaration of an international health emergency over Monkeypox in Africa demands attention from dental healthcare providers. With over 2,800 confirmed cases and 500 deaths this year from the more lethal clade I variant, every healthcare discipline must engage in containment efforts.

Dental professionals occupy a strategic position in this crisis. As thoroughly detailed in this issue’s essential review “Monkeypox and the Dental Team,” Mpox often presents first in the oral cavity, with oral ulcers appearing in approximately 25% of patients before they realise they’re infected. We strongly encourage all dental practitioners to carefully review the aforementioned article, which provides essential guidance on clinical manifestations, diagnostic considerations, and proper infection control protocols. Of particular importance is the article’s detailed discussion of oral lesion identification and the recommended protective measures for dental teams.

Our profession’s potential impact lies in three key areas: early detection during routine examinations, participation in public health surveillance, and patient education. While the risk of transmission in dental settings remains low with proper precautions, the clade I variant’s 10% fatality rate demands vigilance. For dental practices, this means maintaining strict infection control, training staff to recognize mpox oral manifestations, and establishing clear protocols for suspected cases. 

As healthcare providers who regularly examine the oral cavity, we have both an opportunity and responsibility to contribute to containing this emerging threat. Every dentist’s chair is now a potential early warning station, and every routine examination an opportunity for critical early detection. Together, let’s turn awareness into action against monkeypox.

Sincerely Yours,

Danny Chan, Managing Editor