Any epidemic that has erupted anywhere in the world since the Covid epidemic has attracted our special attention. It is also a matter of concern to us that in this age of improved travel technologies, it does not take much time for humans, animals and germs to reach from one corner of the world to another. Now the news is full of monkey pox or monkey fever. We also used to call monkey fever, Casanoor Forest Disease. Therefore, it may be confusing to call monkey pox monkey fever. Let us check is it monkey pox dangerous?
Although reported in other regions, the disease is mainly found in central and western Africa. But since May 14, monkey pox cases have been reported from England, Spain, Portugal and Canada.
The monkey pox virus is an ortho pox virus that belongs to the pox virus family, similar to the smallpox virus. Monkey pox is similar in symptoms to smallpox, but the severity and mortality rate are lower than that of smallpox.
With the eradication of smallpox from the world in 1980 and the cessation of vaccination against smallpox, the orthopox virus became a public health concern.
As mentioned earlier, monkey pox is a double stranded DNA virus that belongs to the ortho pox family of pox virides.
There are two genes of monkey pox viruses. Central African (Congo Basin) virus and West African monkey pox virus.
🔹 Natural hosts and disease carriers.
Animals, rats, monkeys, etc., are also found to be infected and carriers of the disease.
Monkey pox in different countries ..
The virus was first isolated from monkeys in 1958 in a laboratory.
The first case of monkey pox was reported in humans in 1970 in a nine – year – old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Monkey pox was first reported in humans outside Africa in the United States in 2003.
Monkey pox cases were then reported in Israel and England in 2018, in Singapore in 2019, and in the United States in 2021.
Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during May 14, 2022, in England, Spain, Portugal and Canada.
Infection
The disease can also be transmitted to humans through contact with the blood and body fluids of infected animals and by contact with patches on their skin. The disease can also be spread by eating undercooked animal meat.
Respiratory secretions from infected people, skin lesions, and bedding, blankets, and towels used by infected people can spread the disease to other people. To be maintained. Therefore, health workers and caregivers are more likely to be infected.
Monkey pox can be passed from mother to baby through the placenta. (Congenital Monkey Pox) Can be transmitted to the baby during or after delivery.
Monkey pox can also be transmitted through sexual contact.
Also read:chickenpox causes,symptoms&treatment
Symptoms of monkey pox
The gestation period or incubation period (the time it takes for the disease to enter the body and develop symptoms) is 6-13 days. This can vary from 5 to 21 days.
Early symptoms include fever, severe headache, swelling of the lymphnodes, lower back pain, muscle aches, and extreme fatigue.
Skin eruptions begin within 1-3 days of onset of fever. Rashes are more common on the face and limbs.
These rashes can occur on the face (95% of cases), palms and hands (75%), the lining of the mouth (70%), the genitals (30%), the conjunctiva (20%) and the retina.
Skin rashes begin as flat spots on the skin and then progress to slightly raised blisters, which later turn into clear sap-filled blisters and pus-filled sap-filled blisters that eventually burn into spots.
The normal course of monkey pox is to develop a complex condition that lasts for a maximum of 2-4 weeks without complications. However, the disease can be serious in children and those with weakened immune systems.
Complication of monkey pox
It can cause complications such as pneumonia, blood infections, meningitis, and retinal detachment.
Swelling of the tumors, which appear early, can help differentiate monkey pox from various bacterial infections, such as chicken pox, measles, syphilis, and drug allergies, which cause fever and inflammation when diagnosed from symptoms and testing.
Diagnosis of monkey pox
The diagnosis is made by collecting samples from skin lesions and performing PCR tests.
PCR testing of blood samples is not acceptable in diagnosis because of the relatively low level of virulence phase in which high levels of the virus are found in the blood.
Serological testing, including antigen and antibody tests, is also less likely to make a diagnosis because of the potential for Cos to react with other orthopox viruses.
Treatment of monkey pox
Treatment should be based on the symptoms and attention to avoid complications as much as possible. The patient should be provided with nutritious food, adequate water and other beverages.
Tecovirimat, a drug found to treat smallpox, is currently licensed for use in the treatment of monkey pox.
Vaccination
Vaccination against smallpox is 85% effective in preventing monkey pox. Therefore, monkey pox can only cause minor illness in those who have been vaccinated against smallpox. But since the smallpox vaccine was discontinued after its eradication, smallpox vaccine is only available to those born in the 1970s. People under the age of 40-50 are less likely to get the vaccine. In any case, take a look at the small pox vaccine on your left side.
Currently, modified attenuated vaccine made from Ankara strain is available in limited quantities. This vaccine should be taken in two doses.
Prevention
Avoid close contact with patients.
Strictly follow infection control protocols when dealing with patients.
If possible, assign people who have been vaccinated against smallpox to care.
Handle patient and animal samples in labs only by trained personnel.
Ensure triple packaging in accordance with WHO guidelines when transporting samples.
Avoid contact with wild animals.
Avoid contact with sick or dead animals and animal blood or meat.
Use safely and adequately cooked animal meat
We have nothing to fear from every newly reported infectious disease. However, it would be beneficial to know about such diseases, their control and preventive measures.
Written by: Dr. Sunil. P. K.
Info Clinic