Are You at Risk of Contracting Monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection of the monkeypox virus, this virus belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus, which is in the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. It was first discovered when an outbreak started in a colony of monkeys that were being kept for research, thus the name monkeypox. The first human infection, reported in 1970, occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo while trying to eliminate smallpox in that area.
While most cases of monkeypox have been recorded in central and west Africa, cases have occurred outside as well in locations linked to international travel to and from central and west Africa.
Recently, more than 250 cases have been reported in at least 16 countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). “The countries that are reporting monkeypox now are countries that do not normally have outbreaks of monkeypox,” stated Rosamund Lewis, head of the smallpox secretariat, WHO emergencies program. Lewis also stated that the risk seems to be low at this time for the general public because much is known about the virus’s mode of transmission.
The first case of 2022 in the United States was in Massachusetts from someone who had traveled to Canada.
Transmission of monkeypox virus happens when a person comes into contact with the virus from an animal, human, or materials that have been contaminated with the virus. It can enter through broken skin, the respiratory tract, or through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Transmission via animal typically occurs through bites or scratches, bush meat preparation, direct contact with fluid or lesions on an infected animal, or indirectly through contaminated materials. Human transmission occurs mainly through large respiratory droplets, though droplets cannot travel more than a few feet, so prolonged face-to-face contact is required for infection. Direct and indirect contact through contact with bodily fluids or contaminated materials can also cause infection.
The main carrier of the disease has not yet been discovered, though African rodents are suspected.
Signs and symptoms of monkeypox are similar to that of smallpox, however they are milder. Monkeypox begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, muscle weakness, and exhaustion. The main difference between smallpox and monkeypox is monkeypox causes the lymph nodes to swell and smallpox does not. The incubation period of monkeypox is typically 7–14 days but can range from 5–21 days.
Within 1–3 days of infection after the appearance of a fever, a rash develops, usually beginning on the face before spreading to other body parts. Illness usually lasts 2–4 weeks.
To prevent being infected with monkeypox, avoid contact with animals that could harbor the virus and materials that have been in contact with a sick animal. Isolate infected patients from people who could be at risk, practice good hand hygiene, and use personal protective equipment when caring for an infected patient.
A vaccine, Jynneos, is also available for prevention of the disease. Treatment for monkeypox is mostly supportive as there is no proven, safe treatment for monkeypox.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/24/health/what-is-monkeypox-virus-explainer-update-wellness/index.html
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