Cases of the rare monkeypox virus are occurring in Europe and the United States, suggesting that the smallpox virus is spreading locally and not due to travel to countries where the virus is endemic – mainly Central and West Africa.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating possible cases in the United States, including a confirmed case of a man in Massachusetts. “The CDC calls on health care providers in the United States to be vigilant for patients with measles-related rash, whether traveling or having specific risk factors for monkeypox, regardless of gender or sexual orientation,” CDC officials said. statement.
After about 100 cases were confirmed across Europe, the World Health Organization also announced on Friday (May 20th) that it will hold an emergency meeting to discuss outbreaks, Reuters reported. Although fears of another pandemic are likely to be high, experts do not expect monkeypox to reach such levels of transmission, as the virus does not spread as easily as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to Reuters.
Here’s what we know so far about monkeypox and current outbreaks.
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus (genus Orthopoxvirus). According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Monkeypox was first identified in 1958 in monkey colonies, and then again in 1970 in humans in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the following years, outbreaks of monkeypox appeared in areas of Central and West Africa, according to the CDC.
Is monkeypox fatal?
According to the World Health Organization, monkeypox usually goes away on its own in two to four weeks. However, severe cases can occur and today about 3% to 6% of those infected with the disease die from it, the WHO said. The risk of death is higher in young children. People under the age of 40 to 50 may also be more vulnerable to monkeypox, as smallpox vaccinations – which help protect a person from contracting monkeypox – have been stopped once the disease has been eradicated. different times in different countries.
The current cases of monkeypox appear to be genetically linked to the variant, which is prevalent mainly in West Africa and is less fatal, with a mortality rate of around 1% in these remote regions, reported Nature News.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
Like many viruses, monkeypox begins with fever, chills, fatigue, muscle aches and headaches, but also causes swollen lymph nodes, according to the CDC. Up to one to three days after the temperature rises, people can develop a rash that starts on the face and spreads throughout the body. The rash evolved in several stages before disappearing. First, spots or light brown spots appear on the body. Then the so-called papules appear, which are raised bumps. The rash then turns into vesicles and pustules that look like pus-filled pimples. Eventually, these scabs roll over and fall. The disease usually takes two to four weeks to resolve, the CDC notes.
How does monkeypox spread?
Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease, which means that it is usually transmitted from an animal reservoir to humans. (The main animal hosts are not known, but they may include a number of rodent or primate species, according to WHO.) The virus can also spread between people through prolonged close contact. This close contact can occur either through skin lesions, respiratory droplets, body fluids or contaminated materials such as bedding, according to the WHO. Monkeypox is much less contagious than SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. However, scientists are currently studying the genome of some of these newer cases of monkeypox to see if there are any mutations that could increase transmission, Nature News reported.
Can monkeypox be cured?
Although no treatment has been tested and proven to be safe and effective, doctors can use a number of options to treat the infection, including antiviral drugs and vaccine immunoglobulin (antibodies taken from the combined blood of people immunized with the vaccine). smallpox), According to the CDC. The smallpox and monkeypox vaccine can be used to prevent the transmission of the disease to others, using what is known as “ring vaccination” strategy.. In this system, close contacts are initially vaccinated with the smallpox vaccine to prevent further transmission, Live Science reported earlier. This strategy eventually led to the eradication of smallpox in the 1980s.
Where was Monkeypox Found?
So far more than 100 cases have been reported worldwidewith the majority of cases occurring in Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom. There are also several cases involving an outbreak near Montreal, Canada, one in New York and another in Massachusetts. The New York Times reported. Cases have also been reported in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Australia. Many cases involve men between the ages of 30 and 55 who have had sex with men according to The Washington Post.
If you think you have monkeypox, what should you do?
If you suspect you may be infected with monkeypox, contact your healthcare provider for treatment and contact tracking, especially if you fall into one of the following categories. According to the CDC:
– You have traveled to Central or West Africa, areas in Europe reporting monkeypox or other confirmed cases in the month before the onset of symptoms.
– You have had contact with a person with confirmed or suspected monkeypox.
– You are a man who regularly maintains intimate contact with other men.
“If people are sick, they are often sick for two to four weeks. It is urgent to identify people early, treat them and identify contacts, “said Andrea McCollum, a poxvirus epidemiologist at the CDC. The Atlantic Ocean.
Originally published in Live Science.
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