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WHAT IS MONKEYPOX?

Monkeypox

With more than 27,000 Monkeypox cases across the globe, what is its history, current situation and reasons? How can you prevent Monkeypox infection?

Monkeypox is an uncommon disease, generally caused by infection with a virus, named monkeypox virus. It comes from the same family of viruses that causes smallpox, called variola. Though monkeypox is rarely fatal, there are over 27,000 cases across the globe with six deaths globally till August 8, 2022.

Major countries have reported monkeypox cases including Brazil, the US, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain.

Considering the outbreak, the World Health Organisation has declared the current monkeypox epidemic a global health emergency.

Monkeypox began at the Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1958. Monkeys were being kept for research after pox-like infectious diseases occurred in them. Similar to humans, monkeys are also not the source of this virus. As of now, it is considered to be similar to smallpox and might share the same roots.

On July 14, India reported the first case of Monkeypox after a guy who returned to Kerala from abroad developed symptoms of the infectious disease. There is only one death in India out of nine reported cases, so far.

According to Kerala Health Minister Veena George, monkeypox was diagnosed in a person who had returned from the United Arab Emirates 3 days ago and had been contacted with another positive case in the UAE. His samples were tested at the National Institute of Virology in Pune, stated the Health Minister of Kerala.

How does Monkeypox spread?
Unlike coronavirus, Monkeypox is not an airborne virus. It spreads through direct contact with the infectious rash, body fluids or scabs. However, it can be spread by respiratory secretions during prolonged intimacy, face-to-face contact or physical contact.

Since it belongs to the variola family, it is closely related to the eradicated virus smallpox. It was most prevalent in Western and Central African nations. In 2020, WHO reported 4,594 suspected cases of monkeypox, including 171 deaths. Since they were not tested by PCR, they were considered suspected cases.

Symptoms of monkeypox normal occur between five and thirteen days. The infection causes bumps all over the body. After bumps, fever, muscle ache, swelling or headache can be experienced. Further, these rashes or bumps form a scab which falls off with skin or without skin. Wet areas such as genitals, mouth and cornea are susceptible to the spread of this virus.

It can only be diagnosed with PCR tests, and there is no designated cure for this disease. However, a few antivirals for orthopoxviruses can help protect against monkeypox, like tecovirimat.

Are there different variants of Monkeypox?
Two key clades of the monkeypox virus are the Central Africa clade and West Africa clad. The current clade responsible for the global outbreak is the Central African clade.

How is Monkeypox diagnosed?
Monkeypox can be identified only with blood or by looking under a microscope at a sample of fluid swabbed from the rash. Since it is a rare disease, your doctor might rule out other similar illnesses such as chickenpox, measles or syphilis.

Is Monkeypox as contagious as coronavirus?
Unlike coronavirus, Monkeypox is less contagious and the West African clade is rarely fatal. Only 1% of affected people have a risk of death.

Though people with weak immunity and children under 8 years of age are susceptible to it. Further, people with a history of eczema or pregnant or lactating people have a high risk of serious illness or death.

The Congo Basin clade of monkeypox virus has a fatality rate of around 10%.

What are the stages of Monkeypox?
Monkeypox symptoms generally start within three weeks of exposure to the virus. If someone has flu-like symptoms, they might develop a rash 1 to 4 days later.

The illness typically lasts from 2-4 weeks. It can be spread until the rash or bump is healed, and a scab has fallen off.

What are the symptoms of Monkeypox?
Monkeypox can have several symptoms. However, you should keep a check on the following things:

Fever
Headache
Muscle aches and backache
Swollen lymph nodes
Chills
Respiratory symptoms - nasal congestion, sore throat or cough
A rash or bump that appears like a pimple inside the face, mouth, underarms or private areas.
A rash that goes through various stages before healing fully. The condition typically lasts 2-4 weeks.

What are the precautions for Monkeypox?

Avoid skin contact with people who have rashes that resembles smallpox or monkeypox
Avoiding contact with things or objects that a monkeypox-infected person used.
You should wash your hands regularly with water and soap or alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
Don't touch your face or skin with unwashed hands.

What treatments are available for monkeypox?
There is no specific available treatment for monkeypox. However, you can use antiviral drugs used for curing smallpox as the best alternative.

Can monkeypox affect your pet?
This zoonotic disease spreads among animals and humans. Although there are no cases of pets being infected by Monkeypox.

LATEST UPDATES ON MONKEYPOX

Patchy recovery: How 2022 swung from despair to hope to caution
Even as it grappled with new viruses, the human race hit another milestone| December 28, 2022, Wednesday
US health officials prepare to end mpox emergency as cases dwindle
The federal government plans to end in January the public health emergency it declared earlier this year after an outbreak of ...| December 03, 2022, Saturday
Monkeypox: WHO announces 'mpox' to be used as synonym for the disease
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that it will now begin to use a new preferred term "mpox" as a synonym for ...| November 29, 2022, Tuesday
Argentina records 1st monkeypox death of man with underlying pathologies
Argentina recorded its first death from monkeypox of an adult male with underlying pathologies, the Health Ministry announced| November 29, 2022, Tuesday
WHO renames monkeypox as mpox, citing racism, discrimination concerns
The World Health Organisation has renamed monkeypox as mpox, citing concerns the original name of the decades-old animal disease ...| November 28, 2022, Monday
WHO looking to rename monkeypox to 'MPOX', reports US newspaper
The World Health Organization (WHO) is looking to rename monkeypox to "MPOX" to destigmatize the virus, according to a US ...| November 23, 2022, Wednesday
First case of monkeypox reported in the country: Sri Lankan health minister
The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry said that the 20-year old patient arrived in the island nation on Tuesday, ...| November 04, 2022, Friday
Children aged 8 or younger face higher risk of monkeypox: Researchers
Children aged 8 years or younger should be considered a group at high risk for more severe monkeypox disease, researchers report.| October 30, 2022, Sunday
Canada confirms 1,411 monkeypox cases, 38 hospitalisations: PHAC
Canada has confirmed 1,411 cases of monkeypox, including 38 hospitalisations, the Public Health Agency of Canada said.| October 08, 2022, Saturday
Canada's monkeypox tally at 1,406; 2nd vaccine dose to roll out this week
Canada has confirmed 1,406 cases of monkeypox, including 38 hospitalisations, the Public Health Agency of Canada said| October 06, 2022, Thursday

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Monkeypox

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