Monkeypox Is In The US | What You Should Know

Monkeypox is a similar but milder version of smallpox, the spread of this transmissible disease has entered the American landscape, adding another layer of concern nationwide.

According to the CDC, Monkeypox is similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox. Monkeypox begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. The main difference between the symptoms of smallpox and monkeypox is that monkeypox causes lymph nodes to swell. This disease also causes lymphadenopathy, while smallpox does not. The incubation period till the time of infection of symptoms for monkeypox is usually 7−14 days but can range from 5−21 days.

The illness begins with:

Fever

Headache

Muscle aches

Backache

Swollen lymph nodes

Chills

Exhaustion

Within 1 to 3 days, sometimes longer, after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a rash, often beginning on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body.

Lesions progress through the following stages before falling off:

Macules

Papules

Vesicles

Pustules

Scabs

Monkeypox is a rare disease native to the continent of Africa. However, between May 18-26, 2022, there have been confirmed cases of monkeypox in ten states. This disease is not native to the US. Experts suspect that the infected individual contracted the disease while traveling and interacting with an infected party. The latest reports of the infected individual describe them to be in good health and confirm that the infection is not a threat to the public.

According to the CDC, the disease spreads when a person comes into contact with the virus from animals, humans, or contaminated materials. The virus enters the body through broken skin, even if not visible, respiratory tract, mucous membranes, eyes, nose, or mouth. An animal-to-human transmission may occur by bite or scratch, bush meat preparation, direct contact with body fluids or lesion material, or indirect contact with lesion material, such as contaminated bedding. Human-to-human transmission occurs primarily through large respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets generally cannot travel more than a few feet, so prolonged face-to-face contact is required. Other human-to-human transmission methods include direct contact with body fluids and lesion material. There can also be direct contact with lesion material, such as contaminated clothing or linens that cause infection.

Monkeypox does not currently have a proven treatment, although the smallpox vaccine, antivirals, and VIG has used to prevent the contraction of the disease. According to the World Health Organization, the fatality rate for monkeypox is 3-6% of individuals with severe cases of infection. Monkeypox is a self-limited disease, with symptoms only lasting 2 to 4 weeks.

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Sources:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/monkeypox

https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html

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