Monkeypox

In News

• Recently, the health authorities in the United Kingdom have confirmed a case of monkeypox.

Monkeypox

• About:
  • Monkeypox is a  rare viral infection similar to smallpox.
  • It is an orthopoxvirus, which is a genus of viruses that also includes:
    • variola virus, which causes smallpox, and 
    • vaccinia virus, which was used in the smallpox vaccine. 
  • According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), two distinct clades are identified: 
    • the West African clade and 
    • the Congo Basin clade, also known as the Central African clade.
• Occurrence of Disease:
  • The infection was first discovered in 1958 
  • The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• Symptoms:
  • Monkeypox begins with a fever, headache, muscle aches, back ache, and exhaustion. 
  • It also causes the lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy), which smallpox does not. 
  • Incubation period: usually 7-14 days but can range from 5-21 days. 

• Transmission:
  • Zoonotic disease: It is a disease that is transmitted from infected animals to humans.  
  • Human-to-human transmission is limited and the overall risk to the general public is very low.
  • Transmission can be through contact with bodily fluids, lesions on the skin or on internal mucosal surfaces, such as in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects.
• Prevention:
  • There is no safe, proven treatment for monkeypox yet. 
  • The WHO recommends supportive treatment depending on the symptoms. 
  • Awareness is important for the prevention and control of the infection.

Source: IE