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

 
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