Monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus, the monkeypox virus is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. There are 12 species in this genus. This genus is associated with smallpox, cowpox, horsepox, camelpox, and monkeypox. The symptoms of Monkeypox are more or less similar to smallpox, but it’s rarely fatal as smallpox.
The fact about monkeypox is that its source remains unknown, monkeypox was discovered in Copenhagen, Denmark in laboratory monkeys in 1958, however, the first case of human monkeypox infection was identified in a 9-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC) in 1970.
Monkeypox had been reported in several African countries, but all cases of monkeypox in people outside Africa were due to international travel to these countries and via imported animals. The disease spread across continents.
How it spreads in humans is by having close contact with the person, who has been infected with the virus,
Often skin-to-skin contact, including direct contact with monkeypox rash, scabs, or body fluids. Spread can also occur by touching objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used/touched by someone with monkeypox or contact with respiratory secretions. This direct contact can happen when people indulge in intimate contact. Also, pregnant mothers can spread the virus to their fetuses through the placenta.
Monkeypox can be transferred from animals to humans by getting scratched by or bitten by or petting infected animals, even preparing or eating the meat of an infected animal can spread the disease.
The symptoms include Fever, Headache, Exhaustion, Muscle and Backaches, Swollen Lymph nodes, Respiratory Symptoms, Chills, Rashes near genitals often looking like pimples or blisters, and maybe painful or itchy. The mostly infected person would have rashes.
Monkeypox symptoms usually start within 3 weeks of exposure to the virus. With flu-like symptoms, rashes may start appearing in 3-4 days. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. Monkeypox can be spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has healed, all scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of skin has formed.
Treatments, specific to monkeypox are still under research. However, monkeypox and smallpox viruses are genetically similar, which means that antiviral drugs and vaccines developed to protect against smallpox may be used to prevent and treat monkeypox virus infections.
Act as soon as possible, if you suspect monkeypox infection despite having no contact with an infected person or animal, still you are recommended to consult your doctor and get medical aid. Also, do refrain from getting close to other people.
