The rare monkeypox virus, usually confined mainly to Central and West Africa, has spread in unusual ways this year to populations that have not been vulnerable in the past.
But while broadcasts have caused some concern among infectious disease officials and experts, and as Covid’s weary world is on high alert for new outbreaks, there are several reasons why monkeypox is not treated with the same level of concern as coronavirus.
Here’s what you need to know about monkeypox and the risks it poses.
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a virus endemic to parts of Central and West Africa. This is a better version of smallpox.
It was discovered in 1958 after outbreaks in monkeys kept for testing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Monkeypox creates a rash that begins with flat red spots that rise and fill with pus. Infected people will also have fever and body aches.
Symptoms usually appear after six to 13 days, but may take up to three weeks after exposure. They can last from two to four weeks, with severe cases being more common in children, according to the World Health Organization.
The CDC says there is no “proven, safe treatment” for monkeypox, but the Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of smallpox vaccines and antiviral treatments to control outbreaks.
How contagious is it?
This does not usually lead to large outbreaks – in most years there are only a handful of cases outside Africa, if any. The worst epidemic in the United States came in 2003, when dozens of cases involved exposures of infected prairie dogs and other pets. This was the first time there had been an outbreak of monkeypox outside Africa, according to the World Health Organization.
In Africa, 11 countries have reported cases since 1970, when the first human case was identified in a 9-year-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nigeria has experienced a major outbreak with more than 500 suspected cases and 200 confirmed cases since 2017, the WHO said.
The virus can be spread through body fluids, skin contact and respiratory droplets. The majority of cases this year have been in young men, many of whom identify themselves as men who have sex with men.
“Most cases present with lesions on the genitals or perigenital area, indicating that transmission is likely to occur during close physical contact during sexual activity,” the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said Friday.
How many cases have there been this year and where have they been?
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, there are 38 cases worldwide this year, including 37 without a history of travel to endemic countries. Britain announced an additional 11 cases on Friday.
In the United States, the first case in 2022 was diagnosed in Massachusetts on Wednesday. The man had recently traveled to Canada, which had two cases this year. Health officials in New York said Thursday they are investigating a possible case.
Europe is much more affected. As of Thursday, Portugal reported 17 cases, Spain had seven, Belgium had two, and France, Italy and Sweden had one each.
Britain said nine cases on Thursday, but Sajid Javid, Britain’s health minister, said on Friday that the number had risen to 20. The WHO said on Thursday that infections in the country appeared to be locally acquired, but “the rate of local transmission it is unclear at this stage and other cases can be identified. “
None of those infected have died, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
How is the current hearth different?
This is the first time transmission chains have been reported in Europe without links to West or Central Africa, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. The agency also said that this year’s cases include the first reported among men who have sex with men.
Should I be worried?
The virus is likely to spread during sexual contact, but the risk of transmission from other forms of close contact is low, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said.
Symptoms are usually mild and most people recover within weeks, but the death rate from the virus is about 3.3 percent in Nigeria, with children, young adults and immunocompromised people being the most susceptible.
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