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Global public health emergency: The monkeypox virus mainly affects humans and animals. It belongs to the smallpox virus family, but its symptoms are mild, such as fever, chills, and body ache. However, in some cases it can prove to be fatal. According to the CDC, the virus causes symptoms that last only for 'two to four weeks'. It is a life-threatening disease. So let's know what monkeypox is, how dangerous it is, how it spreads, and what are the measures to prevent it.
What is monkeypox and how is it spread?
The virus spreads through close contact with an infected person or animal. In humans it spreads through skin injuries, skin-to-skin contact, and talking or breathing too closely to an infected person. It can also be spread through contaminated items such as bedding, clothing, and towels, as the virus enters the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract, or the eyes, nose, and mouth.
This disease can spread from animals to humans
The virus can be seen on skin lesions for about three weeks; for transmission from animals to humans, the virus usually enters the body through contact with a bite, scratch, or wound from an infected animal.
How deadly is monkeypox?
The disease involves flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. It is usually mild but can be life-threatening. Most people have a “relatively mild illness” where they have a fever, muscle aches and a rash with “five to 25 lesions”. 'Some people become very ill and their entire body becomes emaciated and there are hundreds of lesions all over the body.
Who is more at risk?
The disease causes mild symptoms in most people, Marks said, but some people are at increased risk of experiencing severe symptoms. For example, people with untreated HIV (sexually transmitted disease) or a weakened immune system are still at higher risk of severe illness.
Treatment of Monkeypox
There is currently no cure for monkeypox, but some antiviral drugs are being tested, Marks said. “However, there are vaccinations that are effective in reducing the risk.
How to Prevent Monkeypox
It is important to practice good hygiene like washing hands frequently, avoiding contact with sick people and going to the hospital if you have symptoms. If you are in a country where monkeypox vaccine is available, it is also effective for protection. At present there is no case in Gujarat or the country, so there is no need to panic, but thousands of people come and go from abroad every day, so there is no guarantee that there will not be a case, so it is important for common people to always be careful.
