Monkeypox is found mostly in West and Central Africa, but in recent years there have been additional cases in Europe, including the United Kingdom and other parts of the world. These cases are usually related to international travel or imported animals infected with measles, the CDC said.
On Thursday, Spain confirmed seven cases of monkeypox in Madrid and is investigating 22 more; Italy confirmed its first case; and Canadian public health officials said they were investigating 17 suspected cases of monkeypox in Montreal.
Several cases of monkeypox in the UK among people who have no known travel or contact with others with the virus have health officials there and at the CDC, but there is no cause for concern, U.S. Chief Surgeon Dr Vivek Murthe told CNN on Thursday. “New day.”
“We don’t want people to worry right now,” Murty said. “These numbers are still small; we want them to be aware of the (symptoms) and if they have any concerns, consult their doctor.
What are the initial symptoms of monkeypox?
There is an incubation period of about seven to 14 days, the CDC said. The initial symptoms are usually flu-like, such as fever, chills, exhaustion, headache and muscle weakness, followed by swelling of the lymph nodes, which help the body fight infections and diseases.
“A feature that distinguishes monkeypox infection from smallpox infection is the development of swollen lymph nodes,” the CDC said.
This is followed by a widespread rash on the face and body, including inside the mouth and on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Painful, raised patterns are pearly and full of fluid, often surrounded by red circles. The lesions finally form and go away in two to three weeks, the CDC said.
“Treatment is generally supportive because there are no specific drugs available. However, there is a vaccine that can be given to prevent the development of the disease,” said Jimmy Whitworth, a professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene and tropical medicine in a statement.
How does monkeypox spread?
The spread of the monkeypox virus requires close contact with an infected individual, experts say.
The infection can develop after exposure to “broken skin, mucous membranes, respiratory droplets, contaminated body fluids or even contact with contaminated underwear,” said Neil Maboth, a personal chair in immunopathology at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Veterinary Medicine in Scotland. .
“When the lesions heal, the scabs (which can transmit an infectious virus) can be released as dust that can be inhaled,” said Dr. Michael Skinner, who is in the medical school at the Department of Infectious Diseases at Imperial College London. , in a statement.
Transmission between humans occurs mainly through large respiratory droplets, and because such droplets typically travel only a few feet, “prolonged face-to-face contact is required,” the CDC said.
“Monkeypox can be a serious infection, with mortality from this type of smallpox virus being about 1% in other outbreaks. They are often in low-income conditions and have limited access to health care, “said Michael Head, a senior fellow in global health at the University of Southampton in the UK.
However, in the developed world, “it would be very unusual to see more than a handful of cases at any outbreak, and we will not see levels of Covid-style transmission,” Head said in a statement.
Ordinary household disinfectants can kill the monkeypox virus, according to the CDC.
Where does monkeypox come from?
Monkeypox got its name in 1958 when “two outbreaks of measles-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys being tested,” the CDC said.
However, the main carrier of the monkeypox disease is still unknown, although “African rodents are suspected of playing a role in the transmission,” the agency said.
The first known case of human monkeypox was “recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during a period of intensified efforts to eradicate smallpox,” the CDC said.
After 40 years without reported cases, monkeypox reappeared in Nigeria in 2017, the CDC reported. There have been more than 450 reported cases in Nigeria since then, and at least eight known internationally reported cases, the agency said.
An outbreak in the United States came in 2003 after forty-seven people in six states – Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin – fell ill due to contact with their domestic prairie dogs, the CDC reported.
“The pets were infected after being placed near imported small mammals from Ghana,” the CDC said. “This was the first time that human monkeypox has been reported outside of Africa.
CNN’s Michael Nedelman, Paula Newton, John Bonifield, Naomi Thomas, Alex Hardy and Benjamin Brown contributed to this report.
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