Smallpox is spread from animals to humans and is considered endemic or persistent in Central and West Africa. Associated Press
As the number of confirmed cases of monkeypox in Canada grows and surveillance efforts increase, many of the pandemic-weary public are becoming increasingly concerned about the risks posed by this new outbreak.
One of the most pressing questions health professionals are trying to answer is why the decade-long virus is currently spreading outside endemic areas in Africa.
“It’s a different outbreak than we’ve ever seen with monkeypox,” said Stephen Hoption Kahn, a clinical professor at the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia.
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Smallpox is spread from animals to humans and is considered endemic or persistent in Central and West Africa. But the current epidemic marks the first time that monkeypox has spread from person to person in Canada. The virus is also spread from person to person in a handful of other countries where it is not common, including Belgium, France and Spain, which is why public health experts are raising concerns.
“What we’re seeing is something we’ve been worried about,” said Jason Kindrachuk, an assistant professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases at the University of Manitoba.
The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed on Thursday that there are at least 26 cases of monkeypox in the country – 25 in Quebec and one in Toronto – and several others are under investigation.
Smallpox has been linked to smallpox, the virus that causes smallpox, a disease that causes significant mortality and suffering worldwide until it was officially eradicated in 1980, thanks to global vaccination efforts.
However, the long time since the eradication of smallpox and the end of vaccination campaigns has meant that many people are not immune to this family of viruses. Those who have been vaccinated before the elimination of smallpox have weakened immunity. These factors, combined with the growing incidence of monkeypox in recent years in Central and West Africa, are likely to contribute to the current epidemic in countries such as Canada, Dr Kindrachuk said.
Monkeypox is milder than smallpox and many cases resolve on their own. The West African strain of the virus has a mortality rate of 3.6 percent, while the strain in the Congo Basin has a mortality rate of 10.6 percent, according to the World Health Organization.
Smallpox does not spread as easily as airborne viruses such as COVID-19. It is usually transmitted through close contact with respiratory droplets, such as prolonged face-to-face contact; or through body fluids, such as monkeypox wounds or contaminated clothing.
The incubation period is usually one to two weeks, although the range is five to 21 days, according to the WHO. Now that monkeypox is transmitted from person to person in Canada, officials say it is important to understand the symptoms, which include fever, headache, exhaustion, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes. The rash often appears within days of the onset of symptoms, usually starts on the face and spreads from there.
Many cases have so far been identified in men who have sex with men, but monkeypox can easily spread to any population, Dr. Kindrachuk said. It is possible that the virus was introduced into these communities, but years of data show that it can and will spread if conditions allow.
Vaccines against smallpox are very effective against monkeypox, and officials in Quebec said they plan to start vaccinating close contacts of patients and other high-risk populations in the province as early as Friday. The vaccine can be given after a person has been exposed to monkeypox to help prevent a disease that could be a major asset in efforts to combat the current epidemic.
In addition to vaccines, there are some therapeutic treatments that can be used to treat people with monkeypox who become seriously ill.
The incidence of monkeypox has been rising in Central and West Africa for years, and experts say the current situation is a stark reminder of the need to invest in these regions.
“Unless we start doing something in Africa to prevent this growth of the disease, we will continue to see new outbreaks outside Africa,” said Dr Hoption Kahn.
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