With more than 100 cases confirmed globally, scientists around the world are baffled by the spread of monkeypox, which is largely confined to parts of Central and West Africa. Last week, cases of monkeypox, a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, have been on the rise.
So far, about 100 cases have been reported while 28 suspected cases are also being monitored. These cases are in 12 countries that are not endemic to the virus. France, Germany, Belgium and Australia reported their first cases on Friday. So far no one has died due to this outbreak.
WHO’s Europe Director, Dr. Hans Kluge described the outbreak as “uncommon”, adding that the presence of the disease in several countries across the continent suggested that “transmission has been going on for some time.” He said most European cases are mild.
What is Monkeypox Outbreak?
Who has monkeypox? orthopoxvirus caste in family poxviridae Including the variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine), and the cowpox virus. Monkeypox usually causes fever, chills, rash and sores on the face or genitals. The WHO estimates that the disease is fatal to one in 10 people.
According to the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while the natural reserves of monkeypox are unknown, African rodents and non-human primates (such as monkeys) can harbor the virus and infect people. Most human cases have occurred in Central and West Africa, where the disease is endemic.
This 2003 electron microscope image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the virus of mature, oval-shaped monkeys. (Photo: Associated Press)
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
The symptoms of monkeypox are similar to those of smallpox and begin with a fever. Headache, muscle aches and tiredness may also be experienced. The main difference between the symptoms of chickenpox and monkeypox is that monkeypox causes swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) while chickenpox does not, notes the CDC.
The incubation period for the disease is usually 714 days, but can be as long as 521 days. The rash appears 1 to 3 days after a fever that starts on the face and then spreads to other parts of the body. The CDC says, “The illness typically lasts 24 weeks. In Africa, monkeypox has been shown to cause death in 1 in 10 people.”
What is the treatment for monkeypox?
People exposed to the virus are often given one of several smallpox vaccines, which have been shown to be effective against monkeypox. Antiviral drugs are also being developed. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control recommends isolating all suspected cases and offering the smallpox vaccine to high-risk contacts.
a global burden
The World Health Organization estimates that there are thousands of monkeypox infections each year in about a dozen African countries. Most are in the Congo, which reports about 6,000 cases annually. In 2003, 47 people in six US states had confirmed or probable cases. They caught the virus from domesticated prairie dogs, which were kept near small mammals imported from Ghana.
Isolated cases of monkeypox are sometimes seen outside Africa, including the US and UK. Cases are usually associated with travel to Africa or contact with animals from areas where the disease is more common.
The WHO said Nigeria reports about 3,000 monkeypox cases a year. Tomori said outbreaks usually occur in rural areas when people are in close contact with infected rats and squirrels. He said that many cases are likely to be dropped.
As more cases of monkeypox are detected in Europe and North America in 2022, some scientists monitoring multiple outbreaks in Africa say they are baffled by the unusual spread of the disease in developed countries. (Photo: Associated Press)
BREAK A CONCERN
A sudden jump in cases outside Africa has worried world leaders as US President Joe Biden said on Sunday that recently identified cases of monkeypox in Europe and the United States are “to be concerned about”. Huh.
“It is a concern that if it is to spread it will be consequential. They haven’t told me the level of risk yet, but it’s something that everyone should be concerned about,” the president said when asked about the disease.
Meanwhile, British health officials are investigating whether the disease is being transmitted sexually. Health officials have asked doctors and nurses to be on alert for possible cases, but said the risk to the general population is low.
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