Monkeypox (MPX) is a rare disease. Human-to-human transmission occurs when infectious material from an infected person’s skin condition, respiratory drips in prolonged face-to-face contact, and germs come into contact. The prevalence of diagnosed human MPX cases among men having sex with men (MSM) in the current outbreak and the pattern of the presenting lesions in some cases indicate that transmission occurred during sexual intercourse.
The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that monkeypox may be found in nations outside Africa, where the virus is rarely detected. People have acquired monkeypox outside of Africa due to foreign travel or imported animals, with cases reported in the United States, Israel, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
Infected wild animals in areas of west and central Africa can spread monkeypox. Rodents, including rats, mice, and squirrels, are thought to extend it. You can contract monkeypox if you are bitten or contact an infected animal’s blood, body fluids, spots, blisters, or scabs. The virus is widespread in rural parts of Central and West Africa. Monkeypox can also be spread through:
- touching monkeypox skin blisters or scabs
- touching someone who has the monkeypox rash’s clothing, bedding, or towels
- coughs or sneezes of someone who has the monkeypox rash
What is Monkeypox?
The monkeypox virus causes a rare disease called monkeypox. Monkeypox virus is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes:
- The Variola virus (which causes smallpox).
- Vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine).
- Cowpox virus.
It is similar to smallpox but less severe and infectious.
Symptoms:
- Symptoms of monkeypox usually occur five to 21 days after catching the virus.
- Itchy rash and lesion- mainly on the face, hand, and feet
- fever,
- headache,
- chills,
- exhaustion,
- asthenia,
- lymph node swelling,
- back pain, and
- muscle aches.
How does monkeypox grow?
Close contact when coming in connection with an animal or person
touching someone who has a rash’s clothing or bedding
Treatment
Monkeypox can be treated with the smallpox vaccine and antiviral medicines.
What you can do to stay away from monkeypox?
You may take steps to lower your risk, although monkeypox is rare.
DO’s
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water to wash your hands.
It is only advisable to consume fully cooked meat.
DON’Ts
Do not contact stray or wild animals, including ones that died.
It would be best if you did not eat or touch meat from wild animals (bushmeat)
do not have close contact with people who are ill and may have monkeypox
If an animal appears to be sick, do not approach it.
Do not share bedding or towels with sick patients who might have monkeypox.
Preventive Measures
Treatment for monkeypox aims to relieve symptoms. After getting the illness, most patients recover in 2 to 4 weeks. Monkeypox can spread if close contact is made, so you will have to be isolated if you are infected.
To treat your symptoms and prevent the infection from spreading to others, you may need to stay in a specialist hospital.
Also, Read;