MONKEYPOX VIRUS
News : Now a new disease is spreading rapidly in the world, its name is ‘Monkey Pox’. According to a report, so far 92 cases of monkeypox have been detected worldwide, all in 12 countries, including the UK, European countries, North America and Australia.
Monkeypox is a viral infection typically found in central and western Africa. Cases, usually small clusters or isolated infections.
There are two forms of monkeypox, a milder west African strain and a more severe central African, or Congo strain. The current international outbreak appears to involve the west African strain, although not all countries have released such information.
Symptoms
According to the UK Health Security Agency, early symptoms of monkeypox include
- Fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and chills, as well as other features such as exhaustion.
- A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body, including the genitals
- The rash changes and goes through different stages, and can look like chickenpox or syphilis, before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.
- Most patients recover from monkeypox in a few weeks.
How is it spread?
- Human-to-human methods of transmission include direct contact with body fluids or lesion material
- Indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated clothing or linens
Monkeypox cases have been confirmed in at least 12 countries where it is not endemic, including the UK, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, the US, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, Israel and Australia.
Prevention
- Avoid contact with animals that could harbour the virus (including animals that are sick or that have been found dead in areas where monkeypox occurs).
- Avoid contact with any materials, such as bedding, that has been in contact with a sick animal.
- Isolate infected patients from others who could be at risk for infection.
- Practice good hand hygiene after contact with infected animals or humans. For example, washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Use personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients.
Cases of monkeypox in non-endemic countries reported to WHO between 13 to 21 May 2022 as at 13:00
References :
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/23/what-is-monkeypox-source-cases-infections-spread-experts
- https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-DON385
- https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/prevention.html
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