RESUMEN
Background: Monkeypox, also known as monkeypox disease, is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), which is a zoonotic infection. The swift spread of human monkeypox cases has caused an alarming situation worldwide. This novel study aimed to investigate the association of particulate matter air pollutants PM2.5, PM10, Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and Ozone (O3) on the incidence of monkeypox cases from May 1, 2022, to July 15, 2022. Methods: The data on air pollutants PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 and monkeypox cases were recorded from the date of occurrence of the first case of monkeypox in the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Portugal from May 1, 2022, to July 15, 2022. The daily concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 were recorded from the metrological website "Air Quality Index-AQI," and daily human monkeypox cases were recorded from the official website of "Our World in Data." The mean values along with simple, multiple, and Spearman Rho correlations were performed to investigate the relationship and strength of association between the concentrations of air pollutants and cases of monkeypox. Results: The environmental pollutants PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 were positively associated with monkeypox cases in the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Portugal. The analysis further revealed that for each 10-unit increase in PM2.5, PM10, and NO2, levels, the number of monkeypox cases was significantly augmented by 29.6%, 9.7%, 13%, and 80.6%, respectively. Conclusions: Environmental pollutants PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 have been positively linked to the number of daily monkeypox cases in European countries. Environmental pollution is a risk factor for the increasing incidence of monkeypox daily cases. The regional and international authorities must implement policies to curtail air pollution to combat the cases of monkeypox in European countries and worldwide.
RESUMEN
Face masks (FM) play a role in limiting the spread of viral infections; despite this, their role is influenced by the population's adherence to wearing the FM. However, the impact on the effectiveness of the FM is variable in various communities. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practices toward FM use during COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. This observational "cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia." The data was collected using an online questionnaire survey from September 8-21, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms to assess knowledge, attitude, and practices using single choice questions and a five-point Likert scale. Among 1,356, respondents' the rate was 678 (50%), 207 (30.5%) were males and 471 (69.5%) females. Among the participants, Saudi citizens were (649; 95.7%), with University education (502; 74%) and were mostly (368; 54.3%) between 16 and 24 years of age. The participants (384; 56.6%, p < 0.001) had good knowledge about face masks, and more than half of the respondents, 531 (78.3%) (p < 0.001), showed a positive attitude. Most of the respondents (477, 70.2%) believed that everyone could use the face mask to minimize the spread of the disease; however (111; 16.4%) reported that they would not wear a face mask if the government did not recommend wearing it in public places during the COVID-19 pandemic. Saudi citizens have above-average knowledge and optimistic attitudes toward using face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The community is convinced about the face masks and believes that face masks play a predominant role in limiting the spread of SARS-CoV-2.