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Monkeypox is a disease that is caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genes in the family Poxviridae. It is a self-limited disease that lasts around 2 to 4 weeks. At present, the fatality case ratio has been around 3 to 6% only. It is transmitted from animals to humans that come in close contact. The pox can also spread among humans from contaminated material. It is a zoonotic viral disease that originated in the rainforests of central and west Africa. However, the virus has branched out to other parts of the world since its inception.
Monkeypox spreads through close contact with body fluids, respiratory droplets, and lesions. It is less contagious when compared to smallpox (which was eradicated in 1980) but can still cause severe health issues. The animal range that causes the spread of the virus includes non-human primates and rodents.
Monkeypox Outbreak at a Glance
Since May 2022, 12 member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) have reported monkeypox virus cases. Most of the cases identified have been found in men who have sexual relationships with other men. WHO suspects that there might be more cases in non-endemic countries (the regions where the virus did not originate). No associated deaths have been reported in these countries till now. However, there has been a low fatality ratio of 3-6% in endemic countries (the region where the virus originated).
There has been no evidence that the outbreak of the virus was caused by people travelling from the affected regions to other countries.
Although the researchers claim that there is still a lot to be learned about the virus and its effects on the human body, here are some symptoms that have been found in the recent cases of Monkeypox.
Now let us understand how the virus spreads from animals to humans and person to person.
Animals → Humans
If someone comes in direct contact with an infected person, they can get the virus. The animal hosts that are more at risk of spreading the virus include primates and rodents. Avoid unprotected contact with wounded, bleeding, or sick animals to escape contraction of the virus. The spread can also come from eating the meat of the infected animal if it is not cooked well.
Person → Person
If someone comes in contact with an infected person, they are also prone to contracting the virus. Infection can also spread from:
The virus can also spread through saliva, putting front line workers, family members, and sexual partners more at risk. A pregnant lady infected with the virus can also pass it on to the fetus from the placenta, skin to skin contact, etc.
Symptoms of Monkeypox
The rash usually begins to appear after a person has had a fever for a couple of days. They can be flat or filled with fluid or pus. If they are flat, they may dry up and fall off eventually. However, the ones filled with fluid may take more time to heal. The places where rashes appear on the body include the palms, face, genitals, eyes, mouth, and sides of the feet.
Most of the time, the symptoms might leave without any treatment in a few weeks. However, if you have any other medical conditions or health-related complications, you may require additional treatment. Especially people with low immunity, such as older age groups, newborns, pregnant women, etc., may be at more risk of getting severe complications. This group of people can experience the following complications with the monkeypox virus:
Complications Associated with Monkeypox
How to Keep Yourself Safe from Monkeypox?
A person can only protect himself/ herself from the virus if they do not come in contact with the infected person or animal.
If you are around an infected person because you are a healthcare worker or a family member, then make sure you follow these prevention tips:
Treatment for Monkeypox
The symptoms of monkeypox last only for a few weeks and may naturally go away even without any treatment. However, here are some things that you can do to ensure that the virus does not spread and the symptoms become bearable for you:
Takeaway
Even though the symptoms of monkeypox are not unbearable, it still puts people with low immunity at risk. Being a viral disease, its outbreak must be kept in control. Researchers are putting their best to find out more about the disease and till then, all we can do is contain the infection by following preventative measures.
Last Updated on: 12 December 2023
MBBS, DNB General Surgery, Fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery, FIAGES
12 Years Experience
Dr Aman Priya Khanna is a well-known General Surgeon, Proctologist and Bariatric Surgeon currently associated with HealthFort Clinic, Health First Multispecialty Clinic in Delhi. He has 12 years of experience in General Surgery and worke...View More
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