Monkeypox is just another name applied to the Mpox. In short, it’s almost identical to smallpox, perhaps even more frightening in that it doesn’t nearly kill people in the numbers that smallpox does, and yet spreads fast to any kind of environment, including that at work. “We already have 18 cases of Mpox here in the Philippines. Five have recovered since some were contaminated even by touching an exposed person,” says Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. A healthy workplace begins with practical ways of preventing virus transmission. Here are the signs to observe at your workplace and the four essential strategies for preventing monkeypox at work:
Common Symptoms of Mpox
Fever
It has been demonstrated that fever is among the very first symptoms of Mpox; indeed, it is found in almost all cases in some patients.
Chills
Chills are typically associated with fever, and patients usually present with chills during the clinical presentation of Mpox.
Headache
Headaches occur often, and studies have reported this as one of the standard features of the disease.
Muscle Aches
Prevalent myalgia or muscle pain is also observed and fits with the overall symptom profile of Mpox.
Fatigue
Various clinical disease accounts cite fatigue or generalized weakness as the most common symptom.
Swollen Lymph Nodes
Lymphadenopathy is a characteristic of Mpox and one of the leading complaints of most clinical observations and research surveys.
Rash
The rash is mainly macular in appearance, progressing to papules, then vesicles, and finally, pustules before crusting. This clinical course is well-noted in the scientific literature and considered characteristic of the illness.
How to Prevent Mpox at Work
Promote Good Hygiene Practices
Another primary prevention of monkeypox is hand washing. Hand washing must be conducted with soap and water for over 20 seconds. This site has critical areas of the workplace that are always stocked with hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol; hence, they are always available at all entry points and common-use locations. Good hygiene reduces the risk of passing on the virus, thus ensuring that the workplace remains healthy.
Implement Regular Health Screenings
Routine check-ups can also prevent some specific issues from being known beforehand. A pre-employment medical exam for a new employee may make him aware of problems needing medical attention before they become problems. It also helps employers avoid hiring employees who have health issues that can interfere with their capability to work. Usually, the results of this exam are kept confidential; it is also a measure to help ensure a safer and more productive workplace.
The same goes for an executive check-up, which is regularly conducted for critical personnel monitors and to monitor the health status of senior staff so that they will be fit for duty. It would reduce the spread of diseases, but most importantly, it would encourage a healthy working environment.
Sick Leave Policies
Sick leave policies should be strict to contain the spread of monkeypox. Once symptoms show up, the employee is deployed or seen; this includes fever, rash, or an influenza-like infection. Paid sick leave means that the employee stays indoors the moment the condition surfaces. This will do much to control the spread of monkeypox and ensure that the employees are well.
Maintain a Clean and Disinfected Workplace
Keep the place clean to minimize the rapid spreading of infectious diseases. Clean frequently touched and transferred items with EPA-approved disinfectants to kill viruses, like doorknobs, elevator buttons, and borrowed machines. Observe correct hygiene practices. Frequently clean the high-traffic areas. Cleaning will be much safer because the viruses will not stay on the surfaces too long.
Wrapping Up
The workplace practices would guarantee good prevention strategies for monkeypox. Other health tests that, based on risk factors, an employee should adopt from the onset include pre-employment medical check-ups and executive check-ups. Proper hygiene activities, leave policies, cleanliness, and employee education will enormously contribute to a healthy working environment.
These strategies can help prevent monkeypox outbreaks while ensuring general well-being and overall productivity at work for employees. Infectious diseases seem to overpower the world today, making now the right time to make the workforce more aware of these health dangers and protect them from them.
