Should we really be afraid concerning monkeypox?

Should we really be afraid concerning monkeypox?

Monkeypox, a form of the viral virus more frequent in the west and central Africa, is on the rise in Europe and abroad, according to global health officials.

According to the World Health Organization, 80 monkeypox cases have been verified and another 50 are being investigated in 11 countries as of Friday (WHO).

How Dangerous Is It?

At this moment, the risk to the general population is low, according to a US public health expert speaking to the media on Friday.

The virus that causes monkeypox can cause symptoms such as fever, pains, and a unique bumpy rash.

It's related to smallpox, but it's usually milder, especially the West African strain of the virus found in a US case, which has a fatality rate of around 1%. According to the authority, most people recover in two to four weeks.

The virus isn't as contagious as the SARS-CoV-2 virus that sparked the global Covid-19 outbreak.

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Monkeypox virus outbreak symptoms

The current monkeypox outbreak, according to experts, is being spread by close, personal skin-to-skin contact with someone who has an active rash. Once illnesses are recognized, experts believe it will be easier to contain the spread.

"Covid is highly contagious and spreads through the respiratory system. With the monkeypox, this does not appear to be the case "says Massachusetts General Hospital's Dr. Martin Hirsch.

Many, but not all, of the patients diagnosed with monkeypox in this outbreak have had intercourse with men, including cases in Spain related to a sauna in the Madrid region.

What Have Health Experts Concerned?

According to the WHO, the new outbreaks are uncommon because they are occurring in countries where the virus does not normally circulate. Scientists are trying to figure out where the current cases came from and if the virus has mutated in any way.

The majority of the cases recorded thus far have been found in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal. There have been cases in Canada and Australia, and a single case of monkeypox has been verified in Boston, with public health officials predicting that additional cases may emerge in the US.

More illnesses are likely to emerge as people gather for festivals, parties, and holidays throughout Europe and worldwide during the approaching summer months, according to WHO officials.

How Can People Protect Against Infection?

The UK has begun immunizing healthcare workers who may be exposed to monkeypox while caring for patients with the smallpox vaccination, which also protects against the disease.

The US government claims to have enough smallpox vaccine in its Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to vaccinate the entire population of the United States.

In some cases, antiviral medications used to treat smallpox could also be used to cure monkeypox, according to a representative for the US Department of Health and Human Services.

People should avoid close personal contact with someone who has a rash sickness or is otherwise ill, according to health officials. People who have monkeypox should isolate themselves and seek medical help.

What Might Be Behind The Spike In Cases?

"Viruses are nothing new or unexpected," said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization.

According to Rasmussen, a number of reasons have accelerated the emergence and transmission of viruses, including greater worldwide travel and climate change. In the aftermath of the Covid epidemic, the globe is likewise more wary of new outbreaks of any type, she added.