Monkeypox is a mild infection caused by wild wild African animals. The disease was first detected in 1958 when there was an outbreak of smallpox in colonies of monkeys kept for testing. It was at the time that the disease was referred to as “monkeypox”, as reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Monkeypox was first detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1970.
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The symptoms of this disease are very similar to the symptoms of smallpox. Apart from monkeys, squirrels, Gambian pouched rats and dormice have also been found in this infection. Most tropical African rainforests are colonized by animals that are prone to the disease. However, the spread of monkeypox to other parts of the world is causing havoc. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has the highest number of cases.
The first case of monkeypox has been reported in Delhi on 24
th July, 2022. The 31-year-old man has been admitted to Maulana Azad Medical College and has fever and skin lesions. The patient has no travel record but he/she has returned from here at present Himachal Pradesh,
types of monkeypox
Congo strain and West African strain are two types of monkeypox. The Congo strain is more lethal than the West African strain. While the Congo strain has a mortality rate of 10%, the West African strain has a lower mortality rate of 1%.
How can a human be infected
The disease can be transmitted to humans when they are bitten by an animal infected with monkeypox or come into contact with the blood, body fluids or fur of an infected animal. This infection can also be spread by eating the meat of a diseased animal without cooking it properly.
The disease can be spread to humans through contact with clothing, bedding or towels used by an infected person, which causes rashes, blisters or crusts on the skin. Cough and sneeze droplets from an infected person can also become contaminated. The virus is also suspected to be sexually transmitted, as reported by experts. However, this virus is not so contagious in humans.
symptoms of monkeypox
Monkeypox virus has a latency period of 21 days, after which symptoms begin to appear. The symptoms of monkeypox are mild compared to the symptoms of smallpox. Fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and swollen lymph nodes are some of the symptoms of monkeypox virus. These symptoms are followed by rashes on the skin of people, which often start appearing on their face and then spread to other parts of the body. The rash continues to spread until they become a scab and stop. The disease lasts for two to four weeks.
Is monkeypox a deadly disease?
As reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), places such as Central Africa have inadequate health facilities, with 1 in 10 infected people dying if they contract the virus. However, in most cases patients recover within two to four weeks.
monkeypox virus treatment
No specific treatment has been discovered for monkeypox virus. Patients are medically advised to self-isolate in the hospital so that the disease does not spread and gets better if symptoms recur. Smallpox vaccines used in the US for monkeypox patients are 85% effective. Antivirals and vaccinia immune globulin have also been shown to be curable for patients with monkeypox.
Measures you can take to prevent monkeypox
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised people to stay away from colonies where monkeypox-infected animals live. It is also strictly prohibited to come into contact with substances such as sick animal bedding. Isolation is recommended for patients infected with monkeypox.
If someone has been in contact with an infected patient or animal, one should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water or use an effective alcohol-based sanitizer. It is essential for healthcare professionals and caregivers to wear a PPE kit while treating a patient.