What is Monkeypox (Mpox)?

Monkeypox is shortly known as Mpox, which is an infectious disease which caused by monkeypox virus, which is related to small pox. It can cause painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. Most of people has recovered from diseases, some of the people become very ill. The diseases is rare diseases.

According to WHO, “Mpox (monkeypox) is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever. Most people fully recover, but some get very sick.”

The World Health Organization has declared Mpox a public emergency of international concerns after finding new strain of the virus in parts of Africa. More than 15,000 cases and 537 death have reported this year.

On Monday (August 19, 2024), the Union Health Ministry reported that the monkeypox virus strain spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo and over a dozen African countries is more severe, with a 3% death rate compared to 0.1% for the milder strain.

Senior Health Ministry official said on Monday (August 19), “As per our assessment the chances of its spread into India from Africa are moderate. We are also not putting in any country-wise alert as there is no cause for alarm as of now. Hospitals and doctors, however, have been alerted that any patient coming in with symptoms must be reported immediately. India is also looking at large scale testing provisions should the need arise,” adding that there are no reported cases of monkeypox in India as of date.

How did Mpox spread?

The Monkeypox can spread from the contact of infected person, animals, materials. Means it spread from one person to another or animals who come contact through touch, talking etc. of the infected ones. The virus then spread through broken skin, mucosal or vis respiratory systems.

The monkeypox virus spread from person to person through:

• Direct contact with the infected person through touch
• Close contact (more than four hours) with respiratory droplets from an infected person. This included sexual contact.
• Materials like cloth, bedsheet, blankets or others that have been contact with the infected person.
• From pregnant persons, who may pass the virus on to their unborn baby

The monkeypox virus spread from animals to person through:

• Direct contact with infected animals
• Bites or scratches of the infected animals
• The virus can also be caught through eating contaminated meat which is not cooked thoroughly.

Symptoms of Monkeypox

Some of the common symptoms of Mpox are

• rash
• fever
• sore throat
• headache
• muscle aches
• back pain
• low energy
• swollen lymph nodes.

Mpox or Monkeypox symptoms starts within a week of exposure but can begin anywhere from 1 to 21 days later. The symptoms typically last 2 to 4 weeks, but they may last longer for people with weakened immune systems.

Prevention of Mpox

According to WHO there are do and don’t who are infected of the virus

Do

• stay home and in your own room if possible
• wash hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer, especially before or after touching sores
• wear a mask and cover lesions when around other people until your rash heals
• keep skin dry and uncovered (unless in a room with someone else)
• avoid touching items in shared spaces and disinfect shared spaces frequently 
• use saltwater rinses for sores in the mouth
• take sitz baths or warm baths with baking soda or Epsom salts for body sores
• take over-the-counter medications for pain like paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen.

Do not

• pop blisters or scratch sores, which can slow healing, spread the rash to other parts of the body, and cause sores to become infected; or
• shave areas with sores until scabs have healed and you have new skin underneath (this can spread the rash to other parts of the body).

Treatment for Mpox

The aim of treating mpox is to care for the rash, relieve pain, and avoid complications. Prompt and supportive care is crucial for managing symptoms and preventing problems.

The mpox vaccine can help prevent infection. It should be given within 4 days of coming into contact with someone who has mpox, or within 14 days if symptoms haven’t started.

Origin of Monkeypox

The monkeypox discovered in the year of 1958 at Denmark in monkeys which kept for research. In human monkeypox first reported in the year of 1970 at a nine-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A global outbreak occurred in 2022–2023.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is sourced from publicly available internet resources and the World Health Organization (WHO). It is intended for general educational purposes and may not reflect the most current research or guidelines. For accurate and up-to-date medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, please consult a qualified healthcare professional or visit official health organizations.