Introduction Macropsia syndrome, also known as Todd’s syndrome or Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS), was first identified in 1955 by...
Monkeypox outbreak – Should we be concerned?
Monkeypox has been all over the news worldwide the last few days.
It is caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to a subset of the Poxviridae family of viruses called Orthopoxvirus.
This subset includes:
- Smallpox
- Vaccinia
- Cowpox viruses
The WHO (World Health Organisation) and partners are in the process of understanding the extent and cause of an outbreak of monkeypox.
The virus is endemic in some animal populations in a number of countries, leading to occasional outbreaks among local people and travelers. The recent outbreaks reported across 11 countries so far are atypical, as they are occurring in non-endemic countries.
As of the 20th of May, there are about 80 confirmed cases so far, and 50 pending investigations. More cases are likely to be reported as surveillance expands.
Monkeypox spreads differently from COVID-19. WHO encourages people to stay informed from reliable sources, such as national health authorities, on the extent of the outbreak in their community (if any), symptoms and prevention.
Spread
An important factor, is that it spreads through close contact, which is significantly different to how COVID-19 spreads. People who closely interact with someone who is infectious are at greater risk for infection: this includes health workers, household members and sexual partners.
Stigmatizing groups of people because of a disease is never acceptable. It can be a barrier to ending an outbreak as it may prevent people from seeking care, and lead to undetected spread.
For more updates, you can visit the official WHO website.
Monkeypox is usually associated with travel to Central or West Africa. Interestingly enough, some of the cases that have been occurring outside these countries haven’t traveled there.
As it has already been stated, it can be spread via close contact with an infected person. The virus can enter the body through:
- Broken skin
- Through the eyes, nose or mouth
- Direct sexual contact
- Touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with the monkeypox rash
- Touching monkeypox skin blisters or scabs
- The coughs or sneezes of a person with the monkeypox rash
The most recent UK cases are in gay or bisexual men which has prompted the UK Health Security Agency to encourage men who have sex with men to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions.
They are being asked to contact their local sexual health service if they have concerns.
Symptoms
In humans, the symptoms of monkeypox are similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox. Monkeypox begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. The incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) for monkeypox is usually 7−14 days but can range from 5−21 days.
The illness begins with:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Backache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Chills
- Exhaustion
Within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a rash, often beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the body.
Lesions progress through the following stages before falling off:
- Macules
- Papules
- Vesicles
- Pustules
- Scabs
The illness typically lasts for 2−4 weeks. In Africa, monkeypox has been shown to cause death in as many as 1 in 10 persons who contract the disease.
Mortality
Most cases are mild and people tend to recover within weeks. But the death rate varies, depending on the type. The ECDC has said that the west African clade, the type so far seen in Europe, has a case fatality rate of around 3.6% (estimated from studies conducted in African countries). Mortality is higher in children, young adults, and immunocompromised individuals.
Acceleration
On the 20th of May, a top European health official, Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said that “as we enter the summer season … with mass gatherings, festivals and parties, I am concerned that transmission could accelerate”.
“All but one of the recent cases have no relevant travel history to areas where monkeypox is endemic,” he added.
He also warned that transmission could be increased by the fact that “the cases currently being detected are among those engaging in sexual activity”, and many do not recognise the symptoms.
Treatment
According to the CDC, there’s no proven treatment for monkeypox specifically, but the smallpox vaccine, antivirals, and vaccinia immune globulin can be used.
The federal government though, has a stockpile of other smallpox virus vaccines that can be used. The smallpox vaccination programme has stopped in the U.S. back in 1972. There is a possibility that people who have received the vaccine back then, might have some immunity.
There are no proven antivirals specific to monkeypox. Some treatments though may be used.
Sources
medpagetoday.com
cdc.gov
who.int
scientificamerican.com
theguardian.com
AUTHOR INFO
RELATED POSTS
What is ClubHouse? Have you heard about it yet? ClubHouse is a fairly new app that everyone seems to be...
What is the Situation Today? Nowadays in so many parts of the world people are able to speak more than...
‘‘Cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain’’ In 2014, the Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded to...
The Car Accident Experiment: How Accurate We Remember? Some people claim that they are very good at remembering events very...
Stendhal Syndrome Stendhal syndrome is a psychosomatic disorder characterized by rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, confusion and even hallucinations. People suffering...
COMMENTS