7 MOST ASKED QUESTIONS ON MONKEYPOX VIRUS

With monkeypox hitting the headlines and raising a lot of interest among citizens, governments, and health experts. The heightened concerns have come up due to the presence of outbreaks in non-endemic areas such as Europe, the Americas, and Australia with more than 100 cases reported collectively. A lot of people do not know much about the virus which is rising on the backdrop of the covid pandemic and they are looking for answers.

Here are answers to the most asked questions on the monkeypox virus

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a viral disease mostly transmitted from animals to humans. Monkeypox is mainly endemic to countries in the west and central regions of Africa. According to WHO, the country with the most cumulative cases between December 2021 and May 2022 is the Democratic Republic of Congo which has had 1238 cases in the above-mentioned period.

When was monkeypox first identified?

The virus was first discovered in 1958 in a Danish research laboratory among monkeys hence the name monkeypox. However, in humans, the first case was identified in 1970 in a child in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Even though it is named after monkeys, they are not the major carriers of the virus, and the reservoir host of the virus remains unknown

How does it spread

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), human-to-human transmission can happen through large respiratory droplets and since the droplets cannot travel more than a few feet, transmission can only occur during prolonged face-to-face contact. other modes of transmission can be through direct contact with body fluids, skin lesions, or contaminated materials such as beddings.

Animal to human transmission can be through contact with infected animals, or consumption of infected bush meat.

What are the symptoms of monkeypox?

The symptoms are the same as those in smallpox, however, monkeypox symptoms are less aggressive. The first symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes for 1-3 days. The body later develops a rash with red raised bumps which starts on the face and spreads to other parts of the body. The bumps then turn into painful blisters which fill with puss and finally crust over and fall off after a few days

Is there treatment for monkeypox?

For now, there is no proven treatment for monkeypox, the recommended approach involves monitoring and managing the symptoms as the immune system clears out the virus. In most people, the symptoms resolve without treatment.

How do I prevent monkeypox?

The best preventative measures are avoiding contact with infected persons, animals, and surfaces.

Proper hand hygiene is also advised after contact with infected persons, animals, or surfaces and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when attending to infected people.

The smallpox vaccine has been shown to protect against monkeypox, however, it is mainly indicated for lab personnel working with poxvirus. The vaccine can also be used in major outbreaks.

Is monkeypox fatal?

Monkeypox is generally mild and it resolves within 2-4 weeks. However, in cases of severe disease, it can cause death. According to the CDC, monkeypox has been shown to cause death in as many as 1 in 10 persons who contract the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) has observed that the deaths mainly occur in younger age groups (children), and in immunocompromised persons.

Finally, according to health experts, monkeypox should not be a cause for panic since it is less contagious than Covid, and has low fatality. The monkeypox virus is also not a new virus and approaches to tackling it would be easier.

The information contained herein is for educational and informational purposes only.