What is monkeypox and how to prevent it

The first case of monkeypox in the UK was recorded on the 7th of 2022 and it is believed that the virus was brought to the UK by a traveler from Nigeria.

Within a week, two more people contracted monkeypox, and health officials said it was not related to the first case.

The vaccines that were originally used for the early generation of smallpox are no longer available. A new vaccine was approved in 2019 but is not yet widely available.

The spread of monkeypox between people is very low unless there is physical contact (contact with people), which is rarely seen outside of Africa. ( close contact )

Of course, two cases of monkey pox were reported in united states last year, both of which were travelers who had returned from Nigeria.

Now there are 5 things you should know about monkey pox:(symptoms of monkeypox)

1-     It is caused by a smallpox-like virus

Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958. The disease spread when it caused smallpox in monkeys kept in captivity for research.

It was first observed in Congo in the 1970s and is now endemic to central and western Africa

In 2020, the World Health Organization reported 4594 suspected cases of monkeypox, of which 171 deaths were reported.

2-       It causes pustules in the body of people with monkeypox

These purulent pimples appear on the body after 5 to 13 days after infection. Of course, sometimes it takes up to 21 days.

Initial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and fatigue. These pimples tend to focus on the face, hands and feet and then move to other places.

These symptoms decrease within a month, but one out of ten cases can be fatal.

3-      It requires more accurate tests such as PCR for diagnosis

Because this disease is similar to smallpox and measles, the World Health Organization considers diagnosis possible only by PCR test.

4-     Antigens are produced from orthopoxviruses

They stimulate antibodies that can resemble other related viruses, so their analysis cannot determine that it is monkeypox.

5-      There is currently no cure for monkeypox, but there is an old vaccine

Currently, no specific treatment for monkeypox is recommended by the World Health Organization. But a series of antiviral drugs have been prescribed for this disease. The smallpox vaccine decades ago was the only way to eliminate the smallpox virus and prevented up to 85% of this disease. But today, the vaccines that were considered the first generation are not available.The new vaccine was approved in 2019 but is not yet widely available

Ways to prevent monkeypox

According to disease control and prevention (CDC):

1- You should avoid close skin-to-skin contact with people who have monkey pox. These scabs should not be touched (Do not be exposed to monkeypox)

2- Do not hug or kiss a person who is infected with monkey pox, and you should not have sex.

3- Do not use shared dishes

4- Do not touch the towel or clothes of the sick person

5- If you are in Central or West Africa, stay away from animals that spread the monkeypox virus

6- Do not touch the bedding or other items used by the sick person.

7- A person infected with monkeypox should be isolated at home or in a hospital

8- The affected person should be away from other family members and pets.

9- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers