All that you need to know about monkeypox
what is monkeypox
The disease is caused by the monkeypox virus. Now it is similar to smallpox, which was eradicated in the nineteen eighties. It is not as transmissible or fatal as smallpox. It occurs mostly in parts of central and west Africa. And it is the stream from west Africa which is now circulating across the world.
The signs and symptoms of monkey box
As I said, they are similar to smallpox. This includes fever. Headache. Muffler. Swellings. That theme. And lack of energy. Once the fever breaks, a rash can develop, often beginning on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body, most commonly the palms and soles of the feet. The rash can be itchy or painful the infection usually laughs between 14 and 21 days.
Also, Read-who declared a Health Emergency
So how does this virus spread
Monkeypox can spread when someone is in close contact with an infected person, the virus can enter the body through broken skin. The respiratory tract or to the eyes, the nose, and the mouth. It can also spread by contact with infected animals like monkeys. Rats and squirrels or by virus-contaminated objects like bedding and clothing.
how much dangerous is monkeypox?
Most cases of the virus are mild. They sometimes resemble chicken pox and clear up on their own within a few weeks. In some cases, however, it can be more severe and has been reported to cause deaths in west Africa.
The WHO says 98 percent of the cases outside the countries in Africa where the viruses are endemic have been reported in gay men. And hence they must consider reducing the number of new sexual partners.
The UK health agency has also said that a notable proportion of recent cases in the UK and Europe have been found in gay and bisexual men. Outbreaks can be controlled by infection prevention vaccination against smallpox has been proven to be 85 percent effective against monkey box.
The WHO is recommending vaccination for high-risk groups. It has been cautioned that it takes several weeks after getting the second dose of the vaccine to be fully protected. So people must take other precautions and until that point, antiviral drugs may also help. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
The CDC advises people to exercise caution in situations where they cannot maintain some sense of personal space. The risk goes up in places like crowded areas and clubs potentially contaminated items like bedding clothes should be kept separate until you have time to do your laundry. And in case you are actively experiencing symptoms or if you have come in contact with a potential carrier.
The first step is to isolate yourself and prevent the spread and then reach out to a health care provider who will determine if you should be tested. The WHO advises people to isolate themselves for three weeks from the time they believe they may have been exposed and in case you’ve experienced all symptoms here are some tips, avoid scratching. Keep the skin dry and uncovered clean the skin with sterilized water or antiseptics take a warm bark with baking soda or salt for lesions on the body for lesions in the mouth, use salt water rims.
For now, monkeypox has been declared a global emergency by the WHO health experts say it is a significant act. They say it is a rallying cry for countries to take the virus seriously and not be careless in their approach.