Infectious disease has spread across the United States in recent weeks, as the country faces its worst outbreak of monkeypox virus since 1970. Monkeypox was long thought to be only present in African countries, but this epidemic’s origins can be traced back to prairie dogs sold by a pet store in Chicago. How did the disease spread so quickly? What precautions can people take to prevent monkeypox? We’ll answer these questions and more as we explore the deadly spread of monkeypox virus.
What are the symptoms?
Signs and symptoms vary, depending on whether you are infected or have been vaccinated against monkeypox. Some people infected with monkeypox may not show any signs or symptoms at all. For those who do, they usually appear one to five days after infection: fever, headache, muscle aches and a slight rash. The disease spreads from person to person through bodily fluids such as saliva or mucus by direct contact with an infected animal or person. If someone close to you has recently traveled in central Africa — Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon and/or Congo (Kinshasa) — see your doctor right away if you develop a high fever with headache, sore throat, cough and/or runny nose within 21 days of that trip. There is no cure for monkeypox. Treatment is focused on relieving symptoms until it runs its course. Antibiotics can be used to treat secondary bacterial infections, which often occur when scratches become infected. To prevent spread of disease: Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially before touching eyes, nose or mouth;
Three people died in 2011 when there was a small outbreak among lab workers at Tulane University in New Orleans, where scientists were studying monkeys imported from Uganda; Do not handle pet rodents or rabbits without wearing gloves; Wear disposable gloves when cleaning cages or bedding materials; Do not feed pet rodents raw foods like nuts and seeds because these items could contain Salmonella bacteria.
Where it comes from
If you live in a region where monkeypox has been reported, it is important to take precautions. Monkeypox has been transmitted to humans through contact with wild animals, so avoid contact with infected primates or rodents—which are carriers of monkeypox—and make sure to properly clean any cuts or abrasions before they get infected. It is also important to wash hands regularly and not share drinks or food with others if you are experiencing symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, swollen lymph nodes and muscle aches. If someone in your family comes down with a sudden fever without any other indicators of illness, consider getting tested for monkeypox as soon as possible. The disease can be fatal if left untreated.
Is it contagious?
While it’s hard to pinpoint how monkeypox spreads, experts believe that you contract it by coming into contact with an infected animal. The virus has been found in multiple types of animals, including rodents and primates, so be sure to avoid contact with wild animals like raccoons and squirrels if possible. You can also contract monkeypox from exposure to contaminated objects such as clothes or bedding used by an infected person. To minimize your risk for catching monkeypox, simply wash your hands often and try not to come into contact with wild animals or anyone who might have come into contact with them. If you think you may have contracted monkeypox, see a doctor immediately.
Who should be worried?
Anyone who is not taking vaccination seriously. It is a dangerous disease that spreads quickly if you are in close contact with someone who has it. It can be easily prevented by getting vaccinated, which is typically taken as routine health care in most countries around the world. However, there have been cases reported across Africa and now one case recorded in America that was picked up from family traveling from Nigeria back to America. Those who have already been vaccinated should still take preventive action since some vaccines do not last long and you need to stay alert on how to prevent monkeypox virus. This can be done by making sure you avoid direct physical contact with people suffering from it since they are highly contagious and take basic hygienic precautions like washing your hands regularly or wearing surgical masks where applicable. Also make sure you know how to spot symptoms early before it gets worse so you can get treated immediately. There is no specific treatment for monkeypox virus but those infected will be given supportive therapy while they wait for their immune system to fight off infection naturally. If left untreated, mortality rate could reach 10% within a few weeks and those affected may develop permanent scars or skin discoloration due to severe skin infections caused by scratching excessively due to itchiness caused by fever. So far only 2 people have died out of 24 confirmed cases so far but experts fear that number could rise if more people don’t start taking vaccine seriously.
Is there a cure?
It doesn’t appear that there is a monkeypox vaccine currently, and while there are several drugs that have been approved to treat smallpox infections in humans, they have not been proven to be effective for treating monkeypox. Once diagnosed with monkeypox, it seems that what doctors can do is try and make you comfortable until your immune system takes care of the virus. There doesn’t seem to be any cure for monkeypox. The only thing you can do is avoid exposure to infected monkeys or rodents so that you don’t catch it in the first place. Make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date and steer clear of potentially infected animals as much as possible. You can also help prevent spreading it by washing your hands frequently and avoiding close contact with others if you think you might have contracted monkeypox. You should see a doctor immediately if you start showing symptoms of infection—the sooner treatment begins, the better. Also remember that just because some people get sick from coming into contact with an infected animal doesn’t mean everyone will get sick when exposed to them. It all depends on how susceptible your body is to contracting disease. Even if one person in ten thousand gets sick after being exposed to an infected animal, that means there are still plenty of people who aren’t affected at all by their proximity to those animals! So enjoy nature safely!
What can we do to prevent it?
Protect yourself and your family from monkeypox. This virus is spread by close contact with someone who has monkeypox, such as when caring for or living with an infected person. Health officials are investigating whether it can be spread through contaminated articles like clothing or bedding. Avoid contact with people who have monkeypox—both infected persons and their close contacts, who may be able to pass on the infection to others.
Is our country at risk?
There’s no treatment or cure for monkeypox, a rare virus that belongs to a family of viruses that can cause serious illness and death in humans. And at least one person has died from it in America. So how is monkeypox spreading? Are we at risk? Here’s what you need to know about monkeypox virus and how to prevent its spread: What is monkeypox? The World Health Organization says there are two kinds of human pox viruses: variola (also known as smallpox) and vaccinia (also known as cowpox). Variola spreads easily from person to person, so it’s usually deadly unless treated. Vaccinia isn’t very contagious, but it can still be dangerous if left untreated. Vaccinia causes infections on other parts of your body, including your skin and respiratory tract. Vaccinia also causes blisters on your skin and scabs over them when they heal. If you touch these scabs before they fall off naturally, you could get infected with vaccinia again. People who have been vaccinated against smallpox aren't likely to get infected with monkeypox because both viruses belong to the same family—the Poxviridae family—but people who have never been vaccinated against smallpox might be more susceptible to getting monkeypox from an infected animal or another person who's been infected by an animal carrying monkeypox virus. How do people get sick with monkeypox?