What is monkeypox?What Illinois Should Know When Reporting First Possible Cases – NBC Chicago

As The first possible case of monkeypox in Illinois has been reported in Chicago residents.What is an illness, and how does it spread?

Authorities remain vigilant as recent cases surge in some countries that do not normally experience monkeypox infection, including the United States.

So what is monkeypox and how much do you need to worry about? This is what we have ever known.

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious viral disease that often begins with flu-like symptoms and swollen lymph nodes and progresses to facial and body rashes, health experts say. I have. First observed in Africa in 1970, it is usually found in the western and central parts of the continent.

The virus comes from the same family as smallpox.

“It’s not of monkey origin. It’s the first virus to be detected and has nothing to do with the COVID virus,” said Dr. Allison Arwadi of the Chicago Public Health Service. “It’s a completely different family. One of the reasons it’s noticed is that it’s in the same family as the smallpox virus. There’s no smallpox anymore. We’ve eradicated it, but it’s in that family. “

How is it spreading?

According to the CDPH, human-to-human transmission is “monkeypox pain, close physical contact with fluids and pain-contaminated materials (clothing, bedding, etc.), or respiratory organs after prolonged face-to-face contact. It is possible by splashing. “”

“It’s not just your casual handshake,” Hafiz said. “(Contacts) need to be longer and clearer. Technically it’s not a sexually transmitted disease, but it requires close contact.”

“It takes a long time (contact), not a few minutes,” added Dr. Kavita Patel, a healthcare contributor to NBC News. “(It can also) contain fluids or lesions.”

Where are the cases confirmed?

The CDC remains vigilant after cases of the virus have been reported in some countries that normally do not report cases of monkeypox, including the United States.

As of Thursday, the CDC has reported 19 confirmed cases in multiple states, including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

Illinois reported the first possible case of living in Chicago on Thursday.

The World Health Organization is also urging individuals to pay attention after nearly 200 confirmed or suspicious cases have been reported in at least 12 Western countries. Most of these incidents have occurred in Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom, officials said.

What do we know about the Chicago case?

Cases in Chicago were reported in men who recently traveled to Europe, according to both Chicago and Illinois health departments. Officials said the man was not hospitalized and was quarantined “in good condition” at his home.

The trial was first conducted Wednesday at the Illinois Public Health Service laboratory, but the results are still pending at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officials said.

“Based on early epidemiological features and positive results for orthopoxvirus in IDPH, health officials consider this a potential monkeypox infection,” said the health agency.

Health officials said they are working to identify people who may have been exposed during the transmission of Chicago residents, but “the case remains isolated and the virus is widespread at this time. There are no signs of a great risk of local spread. “” They added that the virus is not as easy to spread as COVID-19.

What symptoms do I need to be aware of?

Symptoms of the virus range from generalized fever, pain, and rash.

“Suspicious cases show early flu-like symptoms and can progress to lesions. Lesions can start in one part of the body and spread to other parts,” said the Chicago Public Health Department. I am saying.

Dr. Irfan Hafiz, an infectious disease specialist at McHenry and Huntley Hospitals in Northwestern Medicine, said the virus causes symptoms similar to several diseases, including chickenpox and smallpox.

“To an amateur, it can look like chickenpox or warts,” he said. “But these (pains) tend to be in exposed areas.”

Health experts also said the disease could be confused with sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis and herpes, or the varicella-zoster virus.

Federal health officials are asking US doctors to consider diagnosing monkeypox in people with a consistent rash, especially if they meet one of the following criteria:

• Contact with a person who had a monkeypox-like rash, or who was confirmed or diagnosed with possible monkeypox
• There was skin-to-skin contact with someone on a social network experiencing monkeypox activity. This includes men having sex with men who meet their partners through online websites, digital applications (apps), or social events (such as bars and parties).
• Traveled outside the United States to countries where monkeypox cases have been identified or where monkeypox activity continues
• Have been in contact with dead or live wildlife or exotic pets using products that exist only in Africa or are derived from such animals (eg, hunting meat, creams, lotions, powders, etc.)

What is the reason why recent cases are unique?

“This is a little different in the number of cases and the countries affected by it,” Hafiz said.

Chicago’s top doctor repeated that feeling last week.

“Usually in normal years, we will see some animal-related cases, mainly in West Africa,” Arwady said. “There are animals that can carry it, and as you know, you’ll see dozens of cases where people can get infected just by coming into contact with animals. The reason they’re getting more attention is , Somewhere among the 100 identified cases, unrelated to the typical view of monkeypox at this point. “

CDC said that “Cases include people who self-identify as men who have had sex with men,” but emphasized that everyone can get sick through long-term contact.

Vaccines and treatments for monkeypox have already been approved

How worried should you be?

Experts say the virus is rarely deadly.

“It’s rare, but it’s potentially serious, because we want to make sure we understand it,” Arwady said.

According to CDPH, infection usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks.

Health officials say that people who “have a new or unexplained rash, sores, or symptoms, or have been identified” visit a healthcare provider and “avoid sex and intimate relationships until seen.” I said it should be.