What is monkeypox disease?

Monkeypox is a rare disease similar to smallpox caused by the monkeypox virus. It's found mostly in areas of Africa but has been seen in other areas of the world. It causes flu-like symptoms

flu-like symptoms

A cold is a contagious upper respiratory infection that affects your nose, throat, sinuses and trachea (windpipe). More than 200 different viruses can cause a cold, but most colds are caused by a rhinovirus.

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such as fever and chills, and a rash that can take weeks to clear.

What does monkeypox do to humans?

A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus. The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.

What causes monkeypox disease?

Despite being named “monkeypox”, the source of the disease remains unknown. However, African rodents and non-human primates (like monkeys) may harbor the virus and infect people. The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970.

Can monkeypox be treated?

There are no treatments specifically for monkeypox virus infections. However, monkeypox and smallpox viruses are genetically similar, which means that antiviral drugs and vaccines developed to protect against smallpox may be used to prevent and treat monkeypox virus infections.

What are the symptoms of monkeypox virus?

People, especially anyone who might be in particularly affected communities, should be aware of the symptoms: rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.

What is the monkeypox virus? | The Hindu

How the monkey pox spread?

Monkeypox is transmitted person to person through direct skin-to-skin contact, having contact with an infectious rash, through body fluids or through respiratory secretions. Such contact often occurs during prolonged, face-to-face contact or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling or sex.

How to protect yourself from monkeypox?

Is monkeypox same as chicken pox?

First, the diseases are caused by different viruses. Monkeypox is an orthopoxvirus, while chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes shingles. Both virus can spread through close contact through respiratory droplets and direct contact with skin lesions and recently contaminated objects.

How was monkeypox introduced to the US?

Investigators determined that a shipment of animals from Ghana, imported to Texas in April 2003, introduced monkeypox virus into the United States. The shipment contained approximately 800 small mammals representing nine different species, including six types of rodents.

Is monkeypox the same as smallpox?

Because Monkeypox virus is closely related to the virus that causes smallpox, the smallpox vaccine can protect people from getting monkeypox. Past data from Africa suggests that the smallpox vaccine is at least 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.

Where did monkey pox start?

The ultimate source of infection was found to be imported Gambian rats that transmitted the infection to the prairie dogs. There were no human deaths, although three children experienced severe illness.

Where is the monkeypox outbreak?

Monkeypox outbreaks from clade 3 are typically reported from western Cameroon to Sierra Leone and usually carry a less than 1% case-fatality rate. The authors said the outbreak was likely not caused by undetected silent spread, or from an animal-to-human crossover event.

Why is it called chicken pox?

One is that it's from the blisters that are seen with the illness. These red spots — which are about 1/5 inch to 2/5 inch (5mm to 10mm) wide — were once thought to look like chickpeas (garbanzo beans). Another theory is that the rash of chickenpox looks like the peck marks caused by a chicken.

What countries have monkeypox?

In addition, so far this year, almost 1,500 suspected cases of monkeypox and around 70 deaths have been reported in Central Africa, primarily in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but also in the Central African Republic and Cameroon. Few of these cases are confirmed, and little is known about their circumstances.

Do I need to worry about monkeypox?

It can be a very serious disease. But if it is caught early, and depending on which strain, it might not be. Right now, the current cluster of cases is from that milder strain. But there have been deaths reported from monkeypox infections.

How is monkeypox diagnosed?

Monkeypox can be tentatively diagnosed if the characteristic skin lesions are present, or if other symptoms consistent with the disease are seen during an outbreak. The diagnosis can be confirmed by histopathology and virus isolation. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests can also detect monkeypox DNA in tissues.

What animals can carry monkeypox?

The monkeypox virus is closely related to the viruses that cause smallpox and cowpox in humans. What animals get monkeypox? Old and New World monkeys and apes, a variety of rodents (including rats, mice, squirrels, and prairie dogs) and rabbits are susceptible to infection.

Do prairie dogs carry monkeypox?

Prairie dogs have been identified as the probable carrier of the monkeypox virus. The symptoms of monkeypox have been likened to a mild case of smallpox (from which 30% of the victims died), with visible lesions that can last more than three weeks.

Do dogs get monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a virus in the Poxiviridae family, which also contains smallpox, cowpox, rabbitpox and other viruses. In general, most mammals (including dogs, cats and humans) are susceptible to poxviruses, meaning that, yes, your dog or cat could get monkeypox. In fact, animals have contracted the virus before.

When did they stop giving the smallpox vaccine?

It was successfully used to eradicate smallpox from the human population. Routine vaccination of the American public against smallpox stopped in 1972 after the disease was eradicated in the United States.

Is monkey pox in the US?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had confirmed 19 cases of monkeypox across 10 U.S. states as of Wednesday. The country's first confirmed case was reported in Massachusetts on May 18. The most recent cases were confirmed over the last few days, in Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania and New York.

Can you get chickenpox twice?

Chickenpox is very itchy and can make children feel miserable, even if they do not have many spots. The chickenpox spots look the same on children and adults. But adults usually have a high temperature for longer and more spots than children. It's possible to get chickenpox more than once, but it's unusual.

When did the smallpox vaccine come out?

The smallpox vaccine, introduced by Edward Jenner in 1796, was the first successful vaccine to be developed.

How can we protect ourselves?

When do monkeypox symptoms start?

Symptoms of monkeypox

If you get infected with monkeypox, it usually takes between 5 and 21 days for the first symptoms to appear. The first symptoms of monkeypox include: a high temperature.