What We Need To Know About Monkey-Pox!

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), Monkey pox, is a rare virus transmitted to human beings from animals. Symptoms of the virus are similar to those seen in cases of small-pox patients, but less severe. 

• Monkey pox emanates from a virus which is in the same group as the chicken pox and small pox virus.
• Monkey pox was discovered in Monkeys..from where it got its name
• Animals like Antelopes, Squirrel, Rats equally carry the virus

Picture of a Monkey pox victim

SYMPTOMS:

Monkey pox starts with a fever and excallates in the following order:

• Head aches
• Back aches
• Swollen nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion
• In some cases, there could be coughs and sour throats
• Rashes sets in within day 1-day 3 of Monkey pox
• These rashes starts from the face and spreads to other parts of the body
• Spots from Monkey pox rashes are much larger than those of Chicken pox and Small pox
• Monkey pox is "self-limiting", it progresses between 2-weeks..then the infected person recovers fully.
• Monkey pox virus infection confers life immunity

HOW MONKEY POX IS CONTACTED:

• Blood, body fluid or lesion materials (objects recently handled by infected person).
• Monkey pox can be transmitted through the air (air-borne) through coughs and sneezes.
• Contact with infected animal(s)
• Blood or Secretions of infected animal
• Eating inadequately cooked meat of infected animal(s)
• Through bites or scratches of infected animals

PREVENTION

• Hand-Hygiene (wash hands frequently)
• Be vigilant, reports any suspected case of Monkey-pox to the local health authority.
• Infected persons should be quarantined while receiving treatment to avoid further spread of the disease.

There are no exact vaccines or treatments for Monkey pox, although vaccines against small-pox infection has been proved to be 85% effective in Monkey pox prevention but the vaccine is reportedly no longer available to the general public. It was withdrawn following the eradication of small-pox in the early 80s. 

Good news is that Monkey pox out-breaks such as this can however be curtailed.