Many cases of monkeypox have been reported in about 10 African countries, including Kenya, Congo, Uganda and Rwanda. The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern regarding this. There is fear that this viral infection may spread to all African countries and other countries of the world. According to reports, WHO may declare monkey pox as a global emergency after its official meeting.
Monkeypox is a viral disease like smallpox. After the sudden increase in infection in African countries, cases of this virus have increased by 160% this year.
About 70% of cases in Congo have been seen in children under 15, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children have been most adversely affected by the current outbreak in Africa. Up to 85% of all deaths in Congo are children under the age of 15.
WHO is also concerned because mortality rates have varied in different outbreaks of monkeypox. Many times it has been more than 10%. It can prove to be more dangerous because it is an infectious disease.
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus. It is also called MPOX. Rashes and flu like symptoms appear in this. This virus is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus family, which is also responsible for smallpox.
Apart from this, it can also spread through infected animals like monkey, rat and squirrel. If this virus is on bedding, clothes or any surface, it can also spread by coming in contact with them.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
After a person is exposed to the virus, it may take several days or a few weeks for symptoms to appear.
Its symptoms usually start appearing 3 to 17 days after exposure. The time between when a person is exposed to the virus and when symptoms start appearing is called the incubation period.
Symptoms of monkeypox usually last for 2 to 4 weeks.
The earliest symptom of monkeypox is fever. Then about 1 to 4 days after the onset of fever, a skin rash starts appearing.
The rashes appearing in this often appear first on the face. After this they appear on the arms or legs and then spread to other parts of the body.
However, in cases linked to the outbreak that began in 2022, the rash often started in the genital area. Some people’s rash was starting in the mouth or throat.
Monkeypox rashes go through several stages. The initially flat rashes turn into blisters. Then these blisters get filled with pus. Scabs then form and dry up over a period of 2 to 4 weeks.
These rashes can occur anywhere on the mouth, face, hands, feet, penis, vagina or anus. Sometimes they even occur in the throat.
From the time the symptoms of monkeypox begin to appear until your rash and scabs heal, an infected person can spread it. Apart from this, it can spread through the infected person even before symptoms develop.
What is the treatment for monkeypox?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is currently no specific treatment available for monkeypox infection. However, its spread can be controlled with the help of some medicines.
Some medicines are already available in the market, which are approved for use in the treatment of monkeypox and have been effective against the disease to a great extent.
Cidofovir, ST-246 and vaccinia immunoglobulin are commonly used in its treatment.