Here’s what you need to know about the rare virus.
As the monkeypox virus continues to spread around the world, health officials have confirmed cases of the rare virus in four Canadian provinces.
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by a viral relative of smallpox. It is usually limited to Africa, and rare cases in the United States and elsewhere are usually associated with travel there.
The name of the disease comes from its discovery in 1958 by scientists who observed two outbreaks of measles-like disease in research monkeys.
The disease is a zoonosis, which means that it is caused by microbes that spread between animals and humans. The first known human infection was documented in 1970 in a nine-year-old boy in a remote part of the Congo.
What is the current situation?
More than 700 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in non-endemic countries since May, with the lion’s share in Europe. Infections caused by West African fever, which tends to cause mild illness, have also been diagnosed in Canada and the United States.
“While most, but not all, recent global infections are among young men who identify as men who have sex with other men, the virus can affect anyone through close human-to-human contact,” the BCCDC notes.
How does monkeypox spread?
Monkeypox is spread from person to person through contact with wounds and objects such as bed linen or towels that contain the virus. It can also be spread through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing during prolonged close face-to-face contact with a person who has monkeypox. Although the virus is not known to be transmitted through semen, vaginal or rectal fluids, it is spread through close contact during sexual activity.
In Africa, people have been infected by rodent or small animal bites and it is not usually easily spread among humans.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
It usually begins with flu-like illness and swollen lymph nodes, followed by a rash on the face and body. According to the BCCDC, symptoms appear in two stages and can last from two to four weeks.
In the first stage, the following symptoms may occur:
- Fever
- chills
- Intense headache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Back pain
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue or exhaustion
- Other less common symptoms may include sore throat, cough, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
Approximately one to five days after the first stage, the second stage begins. Symptoms may include:
- A rash that often starts on the face or legs and arms and can affect other parts of the body, such as the arms, legs, mouth and genitals.
- Monkeypox wounds usually last between 2 and 3 weeks. Wounds change their appearance over time from raised spots to small blisters filled with fluid. Eventually, they form scabies and fall off.
“The rash is more concentrated on the face and limbs than on the body. It affects the face (in 95% of cases), the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet (in 75% of cases). “Oral mucosa (70% of cases), genitals (30%) and conjunctiva (20%) and cornea are affected,” said the World Health Organization (WHO).
What should I do if I have been exposed?
If you have been exposed to the virus, watch for symptoms. Symptoms may appear five to 21 days after exposure. If you develop symptoms, see a medical professional. Wear a mask and cover the lesions and inform the clinic in advance of the reason for your visit.
During this period, you should limit close contact with others, including sexual contact.
What happens if I get monkeypox?
If you think you may have contracted the monkeypox virus, contact your doctor. Inform them if you have been in close contact with someone who has the virus.
Until you see your healthcare provider, stay home and isolate yourself. If possible, stay away from people you live with and don’t share towels, clothes or bedding. See if other members of your household, family or friends can take care of pets so that you do not spread monkeypox to animals.
Public health will contact you if you test positive for the virus and provide instructions for the next steps.
Monkeypox is usually a mild disease and most people recover on their own after a few weeks, the BCCDC notes. Although there are no well-established treatments for the virus, “antiviral drugs can be considered on a case-by-case basis.”
Prevention and vaccination against monkeypox
Canada has a limited amount of Imvamune ™, a vaccine that provides protection against the monkeypox virus. However, it is currently not available to the general public.
“It can be used for management [the] the spread of monkeypox and the prevention of serious diseases in people who have been exposed, ”explains the BCCDC, noting that this is not beneficial for someone who is already infected.
The risk of monkeypox to the general public is very low, advises the BCCDC. There is no need for the general public to be vaccinated.
With files from Canadian Press.
Add Comment