What is Monkeypox
Monkeypox is a virus that causes a series of effects on an individual such as a fever, a headache, or a blister. The virus can be found in humans and animals, such as dogs and monkeys. Parallel to the more widely known Smallpox, it is less contagious and leads to more mild effects.
Prevention of Monkeypox
The most effective way of preventing Monkeypox is by getting the Smallpox vaccine which provides complete immunity to the Monkeypox virus for a fixed period of time. Moreover, everyday practices include washing hands, avoiding contact with ill individuals, wearing a mask, and avoiding unnecessary large gatherings.
Transmissions of Monkeypox
Although Monkeypox is less contagious, it is still easily spread. Monkeypox can spread from Animals to Humans, Humans to Humans, and Humans to Animals. Direct contact and prolonged direct contact such as touching an already infected human from a scab, a rash, body fluids, or touching an article of clothing or material that has been in contact with a rash from a contaminated person can also result in transmission. Moreover, engaging in sexual behavior with an infected person in any way from anal, to oral or vaginal could also lead to the transmission of Monkeypox.
As mentioned above, Monkeypox can also be transmitted through animals. This includes direct contact with animals such as touching an infected animal’s scab, rash, or engaging in sexual behavior with an infected animal. Eating an infected animal, or using its products could also lead to the transmission of Monkeypox.
Symptoms of Monkeypox
An exposed individual can exhibit Monkeypox symptoms from the 5th day to the 21st day after being in contact (this is known as the incubation period). Monkeypox develops slowly in its host from initiating with a fever to a severe rash that spreads across the body, to flat spots and eventually into large-sized blisters. The blisters accumulate with pus and fall off after a period of 2 to 4 weeks after starting to crust.
Some symptoms of Monkeypox include but are not limited to:
- Fever
- Headache
- Rash across the body
- Muscle aches and back aches
- Tiredness
- Chills
- Swollen lymph nodes
Origins of Monkeypox
Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 in a research facility when a cluster of monkeys started developing a “pox-like” disease. It wasn’t until 1970 when the first Monkeypox case was discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the virus then spread to Africa, forming in Sudan and slowly spreading towards West and Central Africa. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, nearly all monkeypox cases aside from those found in Africa were linked to international travel to countries where monkeypox was prevalent. In the 2022 outbreak, the
United States experienced a significant increase in cases.
Sources:
“Department of Health.” The Smallpox Vaccine - What You Need to Know, https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/7022/.
“Monkeypox (for Parents) - Nemours Kidshealth.” Edited by Karen A. Ravin, KidsHealth, The Nemours Foundation, Aug. 2022, https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/monkeypox.html.
“What Is Monkeypox, How Does It Spread and How Can It Be Prevented?” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 19 Aug. 2022, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/expert-answers/monkeypox-faq/faq-20533608#:~:text=Tosh%2C%20M.D.,in%20Central%20and%20West%20Africa.
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