As monkeypox is found in countries from the United States to Australia and France to the United Kingdom, we are looking at the situation and whether it is a cause for concern.
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a viral infection commonly found in Central and West Africa. Cases, usually small groups or isolated infections, are sometimes diagnosed in other countries, including the United Kingdom, where the first case was reported in 2018 in an individual believed to be infected with the virus in Nigeria.
There are two forms of monkeypox, a lighter West African strain and a heavier strain in Central Africa or the Congo. At least in Australia and the United Kingdom, newly diagnosed individuals are thought to have a West African strain, although not all countries have released such information.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, early symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and chills, and other characteristics such as exhaustion.
“A rash can develop, often starting in the face and then spreading to other parts of the body, including the genitals,” says UKHSA. “The rash changes and goes through different stages and can look like chickenpox or syphilis before it finally forms scabs that later disappear.
Most patients recover from monkeypox in a few weeks.
How is it spread?
Monkeypox does not spread easily among humans and requires close contact. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, human-to-human transmission is thought to occur mainly through large respiratory droplets.
“Respiratory droplets usually cannot travel more than a few feet, so prolonged face-to-face contact is required,” says the CDC. “Other methods of human-to-human transmission include direct contact with body fluids or lesion material and indirect contact with lesion material, such as contaminated clothing or underwear.
Where have recent cases been found?
Cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in recent weeks in a number of non-endemic countries, including the United States, Canada, Italy, Portugal and Sweden, with the first cases reported in Germany and Australia on Friday. Suspicious cases have been identified in Spain and France.
While some cases have been found in people who have recently traveled to Africa, others have not: of the two cases in Australia so far, one is in a man who has recently returned from Europe, while the other is in a man who has recently been to United Kingdom. Meanwhile, a case in the United States appears to be in a man who recently traveled to Canada.
The United Kingdom also has cases of monkeypox, and there are signs that it is spreading in the community. So far, 20 cases have been confirmed, the first being reported on May 7 to a patient who recently traveled to Nigeria.
Not all cases appear to be related, and some have been diagnosed in men who identify as gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men.
The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that it is now coordinating with European health officials.
Does this mean that monkeypox is sexually transmitted?
Dr Michael Head, a senior global health researcher at the University of Southampton, says the latest cases may be the first transmission of monkeypox, although sexual contact has been documented, but this has not been confirmed and is likely close in any case. contact that matters.
“There is no evidence that it is a sexually transmitted virus, such as HIV,” says Head. “Rather, close contact during sexual or intimate activity, including prolonged skin-to-skin contact, may be a key factor during transmission.
UKHSA advises gay and bisexual men, as well as other communities of men who have sex with men, to look out for unusual rashes or lesions on any part of their body, especially the genitals. “Anyone who has concerns that they may be infected with monkeypox is advised to contact the clinics before visiting,” UKHSA said.
How concerned should we be?
At the moment, the answer doesn’t seem to be much. Experts suggest that there are unlikely to be very large outbreaks, although it is important to identify the contacts of those infected.
Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at UKHSA, called the situation “rare and unusual”, but added: through close contact. “
On Friday, it became clear that the United Kingdom had purchased supplies of smallpox vaccine – a related but more severe virus that had been destroyed. According to the World Health Organization, “smallpox vaccination has been shown in several observational studies to be about 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.” The sting can help prevent monkeypox or reduce the severity of the disease.
Reports indicate that the vaccine has already been offered to healthcare professionals in the UK, although it is not clear how many have been vaccinated.
A UKHSA spokesman said: “Those who needed the vaccine were offered it.
It is also said that Spain is seeking to buy supplies of the vaccine, while other countries – such as the United States – have large stockpiles of strikes.
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