Monkeypox: A New Viral Malady?

Monkeypox is a zoonosis, that is it spreads from animals to human beings, and is endemic in Central Africa and West Africa due to its close proximity to rainforest. Recently this virus has made its way to various urban areas of European, American and Australian countries.

 

What Is Monkeypox Virus?

Monkeypox virus is the enveloped double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus, and the family Poxviridae family same as the smallpox virus. It has two strains: Congo and West African strain.

The common animal hosts of this virus include squirrels, rodents, rats, dormice, and non-human primates.

 

Signs And Symptoms

Monkeypox takes 6 to 13 days to incubate (from infection to beginning of symptoms), although it can take anywhere from 5 to 21 days.

The infection is separated into two phases: the invasion phase (which lasts 0-5 days) is marked by fever, severe headache, lymphadenopathy (lymph node swelling), back pain, myalgia (muscle aches), and severe asthenia (lack of energy). When compared to other diseases that may first appear similar (chickenpox, measles, smallpox), monkeypox has a particular feature: lymphadenopathy. The skin eruption usually develops within 1-3 days of the onset of fever. The rash appears to be focused more on the face and extremities than on the trunk. It mostly affects the face (95 percent of the time) and the palms of the hands

and the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands (in 75 percent of cases). Oral mucous membranes (in 70% of patients), genitalia (30%), and conjunctivae (20%), as well as the cornea, are also affected. 

The rash progresses from macules (flattened lesions) to papules (slightly raised firm lesions), vesicles (clear fluid-filled lesions), pustules (yellowish fluid-filled lesions), and crusts that dry up and flake off. There are a few hundred to several thousand lesions. Sores can coalesce until substantial chunks of skin slough off in extreme situations.

In Africa, —the Congro strain is more severe "with up to 10% mortality” (even up to 15%), Death  among kids is more common.

Outbreaks Of Monkeypox

New unusual cases have risen in the cities where it is uncommon to find this virus, thus assumptions are being made that this can give rise to another pandemic.

Another 50 suspected cases are being probed by the World Health Organization, which did not name any nations, and cautioned that additional instances are likely to be reported.

Nine European countries, as well as the United States, Canada, and Australia, have verified infections.

Monkeypox is particularly widespread in Central and West Africa's rural areas.

According to the National Health Service of the United Kingdom, it is an uncommon viral infection that is usually mild and lasts only a few weeks.

The virus is difficult to spread between humans, and the risk to the general public is considered low. Despite this, the fear among people of contracting this disease because of rising cases has solidified its roots.

A monkeypox outbreak was reported in the United States in 2003. It was discovered that it was caused by imported exotic animals. 71 persons in six US states developed monkeypox during that outbreak.

 

Conclusion

It is still unknown which strain is being spread, and WHO categorized monkeypox as “unrecognized”. Therefore, we must know precautions and keep a constant update regarding this disease, because the world is not ready for yet another pandemic when we barely made it out of one just recently.

---