Another Epidemic?; Monkey Pox Multi- Country Outbreak.

Fresh memories from the terrifying novella COVID-19 Virus Epidemic, flashbacks to loved ones lost, Almost an entire year of an exhausting lockdown, a strenuous and dreadful period for health workers all over the world, can the world take yet another blow from another looming viral epidemic?
Following, the World Health Organization, WHO half year report, published June 2022, a multi- country outbreak has been declared. With over 3,413 laboratory confirmed cases of monkey pox from 50 countries between January and June alone.
Alarmingly since, the half year report in June, currently, an additional 1,310 cases have been reported and 8 new countries added to the outbreak list. The majority of confirmed cases are reported from European countries (86%). Other regions reporting cases include: Africa (2%), The Americas (11%), Eastern Mediterranean region (< 1%), Western Pacific region (<1%). So far only one death has been recorded all over the world. This death case was reported from Nigeria as of the second quarter of this year.
What is this Monkey Pox disease? Where did it come from?
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease, caused by Monkeypox virus, recognized as the most important orthopoxvirus infection after the eradication of smallpox. Historically, Monkeypox cases were first ever reported from Africa, starting from the Democratic republic of Congo, in 1970. So far two clades of the Monkeypox virus have been discovered to exist, one prevalent in West Africa and the other emerging from the Congo Basin in Central Africa.
How does this disease spread? Who is at risk at of Contacting Monkeypox?
Monkeypox virus is the causative agent of the Monkeypox disease. It is transmitted through contact with infected skin, body fluids, or respiratory droplets.
With the disease formerly being only prevalent in Africa, the spread of this disease to other regions of the world has been all traced to contact with African rodents, which are suspected intermediate hosts of this disease.
Monkeypox spreads through close contact, according to the Centres for Disease prevention and Control, CDC. That includes direct physical contact with lesions as well as “respiratory secretions” shared through face-to-face interaction, and touching objects that have been contaminated by Monkeypox lesions or fluids. The virus may also pass to a foetus through the placenta.
Many of the cases in the latest outbreak appear to be connected to sexual contact, but Monkeypox is not an STD.
“Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection in the typical sense, but it can be transmitted during sexual and intimate contact, as well as with personal contact and shared bedding and clothing,” says the CDC.
The CDC states that it’s not clear whether Monkeypox can spread through semen or vaginal fluids, but the virus can not be spread without presentation of symptoms.
Anyone who has had contact with someone with a Monkeypox-like rash, or who has had contact with someone who has a probable or confirmed case of Monkeypox, is at high risk for infection.
However, a large number of cases in this outbreak have been in men who have sex with men, including gay and bisexual men, and public health officials are focusing their prevention efforts in this group. The virus is not unique to this community, but the nature of its close-contact spread has led to a disproportionate impact.
What are the symptoms of Monkeypox to watch out for?
Monkeypox disease begins with constitutional symptoms that include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, backache, fatigue and subsequently rashes.
However some atypical features of the Monkeypox disease may surface. These atypical symptoms include:
• Presentation of only a few or even just a single lesion
• Absence of skin lesions in some cases, with anal pain and bleeding
• Lesions in the genital or perineal/perianal area which do not spread further
• Lesions appearing at different (asynchronous) stages of development
• The appearance of lesions before the onset of fever, malaise and other constitutional symptoms.
See your physician if you notice these symptoms.
Is Treatment Available ?, Can I get a vaccine against Monkeypox infection?
According to the Centre for Disease Control, CDC, there is no approved treatment specific for Monkeypox. But because it’s genetically similar to smallpox, doctors can use similar treatments, such as antiviral medications.
The CDC is currently making doses of Tecovirimat, an antiviral medication, available for Monkeypox patients at risk of severe disease. This may include those whose infection has advanced into the severe stage and people with weakened immune systems.
WHO says treatment for monkeypox should also include efforts to manage symptoms and complications.
Two vaccines have been developed in the US, but currently not everyone is eligible to get one. However the smallpox vaccine, ACAM2000, currently is also effective in preventing Monkeypox infection. The CDC however has outlined that people with some health conditions shouldn’t use the smallpox vaccine.
The vaccine, Jynneos, is specifically intended for monkeypox, but it’s in short supply and with eligibility restrictions on it, only People who are known, confirmed contacts of people with monkeypox are eligible to be vaccinated. Also eligible, are presumed contacts who had a sex partner in the past 14 days diagnosed with monkeypox, those who had multiple sex partners in the past 14 days in an area where monkeypox is spreading, and those whose jobs may expose them to monkeypox, according to the CDC.
How do I keep myself safe amidst the spread?
• The CDC recommends close contact or shared objects with someone with monkeypox. Frequent hand-washing is also recommended.
• For social gatherings including parties, raves, clubs and festivals, the CDC says to stick to events with more clothing, where skin-to-skin contact may be less frequent.
• Avoid sex or close physical intimacy if any partner involved has monkeypox. If you do have sex and you or your partner have confirmed or suspected monkeypox, the CDC recommends keeping a physical distance of at least 6 feet between partners, washing toys and avoiding contact with the rash.
• “If rash is confined to the genitals or anus, condoms may help; however, condoms alone are likely not enough to prevent monkeypox,” as recommended by the CDC.