What is monkeypox?
Monkey smallpox got its name in 1958, when it was discovered in several labyrinthine species. It is an animal-to-human viral disease, which means it can be passed from animals to humans. It can also be transmitted from person to person.
Mankind monkey pox First identified in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in a 9-month-old boy, in an area where smallpox (a close relative) was eliminated in 1968.
Symptoms are similar to those seen previously in smallpox patients, but they are less severe clinically (smallpox was eradicated worldwide in 1980). In 2003, the first outbreak of monkeypox outside Africa was reported in the United States and was associated with exposure to infected prairie dogs.
Despite the name, most of the animals that are susceptible to infection, and then infect humans, are rodents, such as the Gambia giant rat, the parasite, or the tree squirrel.
Where is it usually found?
Monkeypox is most commonly found in the rainforests of central and western Africa, where the animals that can carry the virus are indigenous, and the disease is endemic. In these countries, it is increasingly appearing in urban areas.
Occasionally, it can also be found in other places, in people who may have been infected after visiting these countries.
What are the symptoms like?
Symptoms often include fever, severe headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash or lesions on the skin.
The rash usually begins on the first or third day of the onset of the fever. The lesions may be flat or slightly raised, filled with clear or yellowish fluid, then scab over, dry out, and fall off.
The number of lesions varies, from a few to several thousand. The rash tends to appear on the face, palms, and soles of the feet. They can also be found in the mouth, genitals, and eyes.
Can people die from monkeypox?
In most cases, symptoms of monkeypox go away on their own within a few weeks, but in between 3 and 6% of cases reported in endemic countries, it can lead to medical complications and even death. Infants, children, and people with weakened immune systems may be at risk for more severe symptoms and death from the disease.
In severe cases, symptoms include skin infections, pneumonia, confusion, and eye infections that can lead to vision loss.
Many of the deaths are children or people who may have other health conditions.
© CDC
Monkeypox, a virus first detected in monkeys in 1958 and transmitted to humans in 1970, is currently being detected in small but increasing numbers in Western Europe and North America.
How is monkeypox transmitted from animals to humans?
The virus can be spread to people through physical contact with infected animals, including rodents and primates.
The risk of zoonotic transmission can be reduced by avoiding unprotected contact with wild animals, especially sick or dead animals (including contact with their flesh and blood).
It is important to emphasize that any food containing meat or animal parts must be cooked, especially in countries where monkeypox is endemic.
How does it spread from person to person?
The virus is spread through physical contact with someone who has symptoms. Rash, body fluids (such as fluid, pus, or blood from skin lesions), and scales are especially contagious.
Sores, lesions, or sores can also be contagious because the virus can be spread through saliva. Contact with objects that have been in contact with an infected person – such as clothing, bedding, towels – or objects such as eating utensils can also be a source of infection.
People with the disease are contagious when they have symptoms (usually within the first two to four weeks). It is not clear whether people without symptoms can transmit the disease.
Who is at risk for this disease?
Anyone who has physical contact with a symptomatic person or an infected animal is at increased risk of infection.
People who live with an infected person are at high risk of infection. Healthcare workers, by the nature of their work, are at risk of exposure.
Children often have more severe symptoms than teenagers and adults.
The virus can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby through the placenta, or through an infected parent’s contact with their baby, during or after birth, or skin-to-skin contact.
How can I protect myself and others?
You can reduce your risk of infection by limiting contact with people with suspected, or confirmed, cases.
People living with an infected person should encourage them to self-isolate and, if possible, cover any cracks in the skin (for example, by wearing clothing that covers the rash).
It is important to wear a mask when around an infected person, especially when they are coughing or have a cold sore, and when touching an infected person’s clothing or bedding. Avoid skin-to-skin contact by wearing disposable gloves.
Frequently washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after coming into contact with an infected person, with their clothing (including sheets and towels), or touching other objects or surfaces (such as utensils or dishes) that may have come into contact with the rash or respiratory secretions.
Clean and disinfect any contaminated surfaces and dispose of contaminated waste (such as bandages) properly, and wash the infected person’s clothing, towels, bed sheets, and eating utensils. disease with warm water and detergent.
© UNICEF / Piero Pomponi
A five-year-old boy with monkeypox is in a medical center in a displacement camp in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (file)
What should I do if I suspect that I have been infected?
If you think your symptoms may be related to monkeypox, or if you have been in close contact with someone with these symptoms, or suspect they may be infected, tell your doctor. yours immediately.
If possible, isolate yourself and avoid close contact with others. Wash your hands often and follow the steps listed above to protect others from infection. Your doctor, or other medical professional, should take samples for testing so you can get the right care.
Symptoms usually last two to four weeks and go away on their own without treatment.
Is there a vaccine?
There are several vaccines, developed to prevent smallpox, that also provide some protection.
A smallpox vaccine (MVA-BN, also known as Imvamune, Imvanex or Jynneos) was recently developed and approved in 2019 for use in the prevention of monkeypox but it is not yet universal. widely variable.
World Health Organization (WHO) is working with vaccine manufacturers to improve access to vaccines. People who have been vaccinated against smallpox in the past, will also have some protection.
Is there any treatment?
Symptoms usually go away on their own without treatment. It is important to take care of the rash by letting it dry if possible or covering it with a damp bandage if necessary to protect the area.
Avoid touching any sores in your eyes or mouth. Mouthwash and eye drops can be used as long as products containing cortisone are avoided.
For severe cases, an antiviral agent called tecovirimat, developed for smallpox, has been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for monkeypox by 2022, based on data in animal and human studies. It is not yet widely available.
What do we know about the current outbreak?
As of May 2022, cases have been reported in more than 10 countries in non-endemic areas. Additional cases are under investigation. You can find the latest information on case numbers from WHO here.
As of May 2022, there is no clear link between reported cases and travel from endemic countries, and there is no link to infected animals.
Studies are also underway in affected countries to determine the source of infection for each identified case and provide medical care, limiting further spread.
WHO is working with all affected countries to improve surveillance and provide guidance on how to stop the spread and how to care for those infected.
© CDC
Monkeypox causes skin lesions, fever, and body aches in people affected by the virus.
Is there a risk it will explode into a larger outbreak?
Monkeypox is not generally considered highly contagious because it requires close contact with an infected person (eg, skin-to-skin). The risk to the public is low.
However, WHO is making this outbreak a top priority to prevent further spread; For many years monkeypox was considered a priority pathogen. Determining how the virus is spreading and protecting more people from getting infected is a priority for the UN agency
Raising awareness of this new situation will help prevent further transmission.
Is monkeypox a sexually transmitted disease?
This condition can be spread from person to person through close physical contact, including sexual contact. However, it is unclear whether it can be spread sexually (for example, through semen or vaginal fluids). However, direct skin-to-skin contact with the lesion during sex can spread the virus.
The rash can sometimes appear on the genitals and in the mouth, which can contribute to sexually transmitted disease. Therefore, oral skin-to-skin contact can cause transmission when there is damage to one of these organs.
The rash can also resemble some sexually transmitted diseases, such as herpes and syphilis. This may explain why some of the cases in the current outbreak have been identified in men seeking care at sexual health clinics.
The risk of infection is not limited to people who have sex or men who have sex with men. Anyone who has close physical contact with an infected person is at risk of contracting the disease.
Who’s reaction to defamatory messages circulating online?
Messages that defame certain groups of people around this outbreak have been circulated: WHO has made it clear that this is unacceptable.
Anyone who has close contact of any kind with someone with Monkeypox is at risk, regardless of who they are, what they do, who they choose to have sex with, or any other factor. .
WHO points out that it is unacceptable to discriminate against people because of a disease.
Anyone who has been infected, or is helping to care for those who are unwell, needs support: stigma can only make things worse and slow efforts to end the epidemic.
