Monkey Pox: The cause, Transmission and Prevention


Monkey pox is a rare disease that is caused by infection with monkey pox virus. Monkey pox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (the cause of smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox virus.

Monkey pox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research, hence the name ‘monkeypox.’ The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. Since then monkeypox has been reported in humans in other central and western African countries. The 2003 outbreak in the United States is the only time monkeypox infections in humans were documented outside of Africa.

The natural reservoir of monkeypox remains unknown. However, African rodent species are expected to play a role in transmission.

There are two distinct genetic groups (clades) of monkey pox virus—Central African and West African. West African monkeypox is associated with milder disease, fewer deaths, and limited human-to-human transmission.

Signs and 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 main difference between symptoms of smallpox and monkeypox is that monkeypox causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) while smallpox does not. 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

Transmission

Transmission of monkeypox virus occurs when a person comes into contact with the virus from an animal, human, or materials contaminated with the virus. The virus enters the body through broken skin (even if not visible), respiratory tract, or the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth). Animal-to-human transmission may occur by bite or scratch, bush meat preparation, direct contact with body fluids or lesion material, or indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated bedding. Human-to-human transmission is thought to occur primarily through large respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets generally cannot travel more than a few feet, so prolonged face-to-face contact is required. Other human-to-human methods of transmission include direct contact with body fluids or lesion material, and indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated clothing or linens.

The reservoir host (main disease carrier) of monkeypox is still unknown although African rodents are suspected to play a part in transmission. The virus that causes monkeypox has only been recovered (isolated) twice from an animal in nature. In the first instance (1985), the virus was recovered from an apparently ill African rodent (rope squirrel) in the Equateur Region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the second (2012), the virus was recovered from a dead infant mangabey found in the Tai National Park, Cote d’Ivoire.

Prevention

Practice good hand hygiene after contact with infected animals or humans.

There are number of measures that can be taken to prevent infection with monkey pox virus:

   1. Avoid contact with animals that could harbor the virus (including animals that are sick or that have been found dead in areas where monkey pox occurs).

    2. Avoid contact with any materials, such as bedding, that has been in contact with a sick animal.

    3. Isolate infected patients from others who could be at risk for infection.

    4. Practice good hand hygiene after contact with infected animals or humans. For example, washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

   5. Use personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients.

Credit: CDC

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NEEM TREE & MEDICINAL USES

Image
NEEM TREE & MEDICINAL USES "Dogo Yarow" The TREE of LIFE The Magical Evergreen Tree The neem plant is native to India but gradually spread to many parts of the world over the years. IT HAS BEEN USED LOCALLY AS MEDICINE OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND OVER THE CENTURIES IN PHARMACEUTICALS, COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES. Almost every part of this wonder plant is Medicinal, ranging from roots, bark, twigs, leaves, flowers and seeds...... It's very common within the Hausa communities in Cameroon more especially in the Northen regions which predominantly occupied by the Hausa ethnic group. They call it Dogo Yarow which when translated means, TALL CHILD or TALL PIKIN in Pidgin English..... MEDICINAL USES OF THE TREE OF LIFE - NEEM: * Cardiac Problems: Infusions of leaves in HOT water when taken removes bad sugars and toxins from blood, dilates blood vessels, improves blood circulation and balances heart pumping rates * High Blood Pressure: It relaxes erratic heart beats a
Read more

TAPE WORMS: Unwanted 'Guests' in the Intestines

Image
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=261432537653223&id=193799827749828 Tapeworms are flat, segmented worms that live in the intestines of some animals. Animals can become infected with these parasites when grazing in pastures or drinking contaminated water. Eating undercooked meat from infected animals is the main cause of tapeworm infection in people. Although tapeworms in humans usually cause few symptoms and are easily treated, they can sometimes cause serious, life-threatening problems. That's why it's important to recognize the symptoms and know how to protect yourself and your family. Tapeworm Causes Six types of tapeworms are known to infect people. They are usually identified by the animals they come from -- for example, Taenia saginata from beef, Taenia solium from pork, and Diphyllobothrium latum from fish. Tapeworms have a three-stage lifecycle: egg, an immature stage called a larva, and an adult stage at which the worm can produce more eggs. Bec
Read more

8,260 students graduate as ABU holds 40th convocation tomorrow

Image
The 40th convocation ceremony of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria will hold tomorrow with 8,260 students graduating with first degrees. The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Ibrahim Garba, made this known during a press briefing yesterday, saying that the convocation would confirm the graduation of 256 PhD students. He said the number of PhD and about 3,600 other postgraduate graduands was a confirmation of the new status that ABU had assumed where priority was given to postgraduate studies. Professor Garba said ABU was expanding its carrying capacity through introduction of new programmes to accommodate more applicants who usually overwhelmed the school. “It is in this direction that we now allow more institutions to run degree programmes with our affiliation.  We have also introduced distance learning where we admit hundreds of students and we would commence undergraduate studies in the centre,” he said.
Read more