MONKEYPOX

 

Monkeypox is a viral disease from the same family as smallpox, though its symptoms usually are not as serious. Scientists have known about it since 1958, when it was found in laboratory monkeys used for research. Monkeypox is most common in Central and West Africa. But in May 2022, some health officials began reporting an outbreak of the virus in several regions outside Africa.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic virus, which means it spreads from animals to humans. In addition to monkeys, it is been found in other primates and certain rodents in Africa. But people can transmit it to each other too. The first known human infection was in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

How Is Monkeypox Transmitted?

It can spread from person to person through close contact. Someone who is infected with it can pass it to you through:

• Contact with body fluids like blood or semen.
• Contact with monkeypox lesions on their skin (including inside their nose and mouth).
• Respiratory droplets that you breathe in.
• Things that have touched infected body fluids, like bedding or clothing (this happens less often).

Infected animals can pass on the virus if they bite or scratch you. You can also get it from eating uncooked contaminated meat.

The virus can get into your body through a break in the skin (which you might not even be aware of) or through your mouth, nose, or eyes. You can breathe it in, but you would probably have to be in close contact for a fairly long time. That is because most droplets do not travel very far.

 

Monkeypox is not technically considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI) since you can get it from other forms of contact. But people infected with monkeypox can pass it on during sex. WHO officials say most of the May 2022 cases were sexually transmitted, especially among men who have sex with men.

Symptoms of Monkeypox.

It typically takes between 1 and 2 weeks after exposure to get sick from the monkeypox virus, but it could take as long as 3 weeks. Symptoms include:

• Fever.
• Tiredness.
• Headache.
• Aching muscles.
• Chills.
• Backache.
• Sore throat.
• Dry cough.
• Swollen lymph nodes.
• Trouble breathing (in serious cases).

One to 3 days after your fever starts, a rash shows up. It typically starts on your face before spreading to other parts of the body. The rash is more common on the hands, feet, arms, and legs. It also tends to follow a particular pattern: Flat, round lesions (macules) grow into slightly raised bumps (papules), then into bumps filled with clear fluid (vesicles). These then change into bumps with yellowish fluid (pustules) that crust over and fall off.

You can spread monkeypox to others starting a day before the rash shows up. You are contagious for up to 21 days after your first symptoms, or until your lesions have scabbed over and you do not have any other symptoms.

How Serious Is Monkeypox?

The illness typically runs its course in 2 to 4 weeks. It can be quite serious, especially in children who were exposed to a lot of the virus or in people with other health conditions or weak immune systems.

In some cases, thousands of lesions grow together and cause the loss of large sections of skin at once. Death is rare but possible. In Africa, monkeypox leads to death in up to 1 of every 10 people who get it. But many people in this region live in areas without adequate medical care. Children are most at risk for serious illness and death.

Possible serious complications from monkeypox include secondary infections like:

• Encephalitis.
• Sepsis.
• Bronchopneumonia.
• Infection of cornea with possible vision loss.

Exposed to Monkeypox: What to Do

If you think you have been exposed to monkeypox, consult your doctor immediately for guidance and advice. Look out for symptoms for 21 days after your first exposure. You should:

• Check your temperature twice a day.
• If you have chills and swollen lymph nodes but no fever or rash, isolate yourself at home for 24 hours.
• If you have a fever and/or rash, self-isolate right away and contact your local hospital.
• If chills and swollen lymph nodes do not go away, consult your doctor.
• If you have no symptoms, you can go about your daily routine as usual. But do not donate blood, cells, tissue, breast milk, semen, or organs while you are monitoring for symptoms.

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