What you need to know about monkeypox diseases, symptoms, etc.

America Confirmed cases of monkeypox Among the Massachusetts men who recently traveled to Canada, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.The man was hospitalized and in good condition, Massachusetts Health officials saidHe adds that there is no risk to the general public at this time. New York City Health Department also Thursday Possibility of monkeypox..

Monkeypox Is a disease caused by the orthopox virus, which belongs to the same family of viruses that cause smallpox and cowpox. Monkeypox is endemic in West and Central Africa, and reports are rare in the United States, but not unheard of. (There were two reports last year, 47 cases in 2003 In outbreaks related to pet prairie dogs. )

Pockets of monkeypox cases have also been detected in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and other European countries. Health authorities are monitoring new clusters of cases – Especially in the UK – Some cases are not travel-related, indicating an abnormal community of countries that have never been affected by the disease.

Dr. Ameshua Dalha, an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center, said: For the safety of health.

Adalja says there is no general threat from monkeypox in the United States at this time, but scientists “know what’s happening epidemiologically” with other outbreaks outside Africa. Is trying to explain why it looks different. Most of the time, I’m focused.

“I think it’s something to watch over how widespread the spread is, but there’s no reason to be wary or panic about this,” Adalja said. Monkeypox is not new, and there are already some tools to stop the spread of the infection, such as the smallpox vaccine.

This is what we know.

What is monkeypox? How strict is it?

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease. In other words, it is transmitted from animals to humans. Smallpox is considered to be clinically more severe than monkeypox, but it is caused by the orthopox virus, which also causes smallpox.

There is Two “clades” of monkeypox virusAccording to the World Health Organization, including West African Clade and Congo Basin Clade. The mortality rate of the West African clade, which has been proven to be the cause of several infectious diseases in the United Kingdom by PCR testing, is less than 1%. According to the World Health Organization, mortality rates in the Congo Basin or the Ramification Group in Central Africa are as high as 10%.

Monkeypox was first discovered in the monkey colonies being studied in the 1950s. According to the CDCBut it is Was also found With squirrels, rats and other animals. The first human case was discovered in 1970.

How does monkeypox spread?

Monkeypox Spread among people According to the CDC, it is primarily due to close contact with the respiratory droplets, but it can also spread through skin damage and mucous membranes (eyes, mouth, etc.). “Smallpox”, which usually develops in people with monkeypox or contact with body fluids or substances containing substances in the lesion.

Many of the people exposed to monkeypox in countries that normally do not have monkeypox cases, such as Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom, were men who had sex with men. CDC news release.. Close contact with sexual partners If other people have symptoms, they may be exposed to monkeypox.

Symptoms of monkeypox

Symptoms of monkeypox in humans are similar (but milder) smallpoxWHO declared it abolished in 1980.

Usually monkeypox infection It starts with flu-like symptomsFatigue, severe headache, fever, swollen lymph nodes, etc. According to the CDC, a rash usually develops and spreads on the face within 1-3 days of the onset of fever.Lesions, or monkeypox, begin to fill with pus and then Finally a scab And fall.

The illness usually lasts 2-4 weeks. The incubation period ranges from 5 to 21 days for each CDC.

Importantly, Adalja said: “Monkeypox is not contagious during the incubation period and is not capable of spreading like certain viruses such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2.”

Is there a monkeypox vaccine?

Yes.US Food and Drug Administration Approves JYNNEOS Prevent monkeypox.. Since monkeypox is so closely associated with smallpox, smallpox vaccines are also effective against smallpox and vice versa. The United States has a stockpile of these vaccines, says Adalja.

According to the CDC, smallpox vaccines have not been generally distributed in the United States since the early 1970s. For this reason, the spillover or “cross-defense” immunity from the smallpox vaccine is limited to the elderly. Who said.

In the UK, high-risk contacts for people with monkeypox Vaccine provided.. This type of targeted vaccination, what Adalja calls “ring vaccination,” is what health officials quarantine infected and immunize close associates to prevent the spread of the infection. increase. He says antivirals that act on smallpox will also affect monkeypox.

Dr. Daniel Pastura, head of neuroinfections at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and associate professor of neurology, medicine and epidemiology, said the vaccine was used by people who were exposed but not yet symptomatic. It states that it has been. Monkey Pox, because the incubation period of the disease is very long.

“Basically what you’re doing is stimulating the immune system with a vaccine to make it aware of the virus before it builds up,” Pastura said.

Big picture

According to Pastura, recognizing the symptoms of monkeypox is useful, but not the cause of panic, especially when more cases occur in the United States.

“This shows the need for public health,” Pastura said. “As we saw in COVID, it is very important to have a robust public health system and support our public health system.”

It also draws attention to the wide variety of viruses we live in. All zoonotic diseases ( COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection)) He says it is very important to monitor them as they can be serious.

“I think this shows that there are many threats of zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that can jump from animals to humans,” Pastura said. This demonstrates the need for public health surveillance, he says. “But it also shows that we must be careful and careful in interacting with both wildlife and livestock.”

It’s also a developing situation, he says, so the recommendations made by public health authorities will change as the information does-the same applies to all illnesses and new sciences.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informative purposes only and is not intended for health or medical advice. Always consult your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider if you have any questions about your medical condition or health goals.