What are monkeypox and its signs and symptoms?

According to the CDC, cases outside of Africa are usually associated with travel abroad and imported animals infected with Pox.

“At this point, I don’t want to worry people,” Mercy said. “These numbers are still small. We want (people) to be aware of the symptoms and to be aware of any concerns about contacting a doctor.”

What are the initial symptoms of monkeypox?

“The distinguishing feature between monkeypox and smallpox infections is the development of lymph node swelling,” said the CDC.

Next, a widespread rash appears on the face and body, including the mouth, palms, and soles of the feet.

Painful raised pox is pearly, filled with liquid and often surrounded by a red circle. According to the CDC, the lesion eventually becomes a scab and resolves in a few weeks.

According to the WHO and CDC, the current outbreak appears to have a large number of cases causing rashes in the groin of patients.

“In some cases, in the early stages of the disease, the rash was predominantly in the genital and perianal areas,” said Dr. John Brooks, chief medical officer of the CDC’s HIV / AIDS Prevention Division, in a news briefing on Monday. I did.

“In some cases, it causes lesions of the anus or genitals that look like other illnesses such as herpes, chickenpox, and syphilis,” he said.

A “notable proportion of cases” in the current outbreak was found among gay and bisexual men. [and] I spread monkeypox. ”

Overall, the risk of monkeypox is moderate for people with multiple sexual partners and low for a larger population, according to a rapid risk assessment report released by the European Center for Disease Control and Control on Monday. ..

However, monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted disease.

How does monkeypox spread?

According to experts, the spread of the monkeypox virus requires close contact with the infected individual.

Neil Mabbott, personal chair of immunopathology at the University of Edinburgh Veterinary School in Scotland, said in a statement, “Skin damage, mucous membranes, respiratory droplets, infected body fluids and even contact with contaminated linen. The infection can occur after being exposed to. ..

“When the lesion heals, the scab (which can carry the infectious virus) can be released as dust and inhaled,” said Dr. Michael Skinner, Ph.D., in the Faculty of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College. Said. London, in a statement.

“Smallpox patients became contagious as soon as the virus spread through droplets with coughing and sneezing,” said Dr. Paristosh Prasad, director of the High Infectious Diseases Unit at the University of Rochester Medical Center. It remained contagious until it resolved. ” In New York.

However, based on available historical information, monkeypox appears to be less contagious than smallpox, Prasad said.

“Monkeypox can be a serious infection, and mortality from this type of monkeypox virus was about 1% in other outbreaks. These are often low access to health care. We are in an income environment, “says Global Health at Southern Puton University in the United Kingdom. No deaths from the current outbreak have been reported.

However, in developed countries, “it is very rare to see only a handful of cases at the time of outbreak, and (Covid) -style infection levels will not be seen,” Head said in a statement.

According to the CDC, common household disinfectants can kill the monkeypox virus.

How is monkeypox treated?

“Treatment is generally supportive,” said Jimmy Whitworth, a professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, as there are no specific medications available to treat the symptoms of monkeypox. rice field.

“But there are vaccines available that can be given to prevent the onset of the disease,” Whitworth said.

In the United States, a double-dose vaccine called Jynneos is currently approved to prevent monkeypox and can also be used for smallpox. Vaccines are stockpiled by the US government in case the eradicated disease recurs.

“Currently, over 1,000 doses are available, and we expect that level to rise very rapidly in the coming weeks as the company offers more doses,” said the Deputy of the High-Results Pathogens Division. Dr. Jennifer McKistton, director, said. Pathology within the CDC’s National Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Zoonoties told reporters on Monday’s phone call.

“We want to maximize the distribution of vaccines to people who are known to benefit from them,” McQuiston said. “These are known monkeypox patients, health care workers, people who have experienced very close personal contact, and people who may be at high risk of particularly serious illness.”

Where did monkeypox occur?

However, “although the carriers of the main disease of monkeypox are still unknown,” there is a suspicion that rodents in Africa contribute to the infection, “the agency said.

The first known cases of monkeypox in people were “recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970 during a period of intense efforts to eliminate smallpox,” the CDC said. Since then, most cases have been concentrated in 11 African countries, and in the United States and Europe there are several outbreaks related to travel and imports from endemic countries.

“Pets were infected after being housed near small mammals imported from Ghana,” the CDC said. “This is the first time that human monkeypox has been reported outside Africa.”