Monkeypox is a virus that is transmitted from animals to humans.
Representative Image | Photo: Reuters
New Delhi: The World Health Organization (WHO) is likely to declare a global health emergency in the event of a monkeypox outbreak. This is despite the fact that the virus is spreading in many parts of the world. The UN Health Agency is convening an emergency meeting next week to decide on the matter.
As of June 8, there were 2,821 people infected with monkeypox. There are 1285 monkeypox cases in Europe, North America and Australia. The disease is endemic in eight African countries, including Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Congo and Liberia. As of June 8, 72 deaths had been reported in African countries where the disease had spread.
“We do not have to wait until the situation is resolved and it is time to take action,” said Tedros Adanom Gabriatius, director general of the World Health Organization.
Although monkeypox is not as dangerous as covid, experts say guidelines need to be issued on how to accurately isolate an infected person, replace those at risk, and increase tests.
Meanwhile, guidelines issued by the World Health Organization on the monkeypox vaccine say that the monkeypox vaccine used for smallpox can be given.
What is Monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a virus that is transmitted from animals to humans. Monkeypox with symptoms of smallpox, an orthopedic virus infection that was declared extinct worldwide in the 1980s despite its low severity. The symptoms are similar. The disease is mainly found in central and western Africa. The disease was first confirmed in monkeys in 1958. Monkeypox was first detected in humans in 1970 in a 9-year-old boy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Infection
The disease can be transmitted from animal to human through direct contact with the blood and body fluids of infected animals. Evidence of viral infection has been found in a number of animals, including antelopes, rats, and various species of monkeys. People living in or near the forest are at risk of contracting the disease if they come in contact with infected animals.
The disease is transmitted from person to person through close contact with the respiratory secretions of an infected person. Monkeypox is transmitted from person to person through close contact with body fluids, droplets, and bedding. .
Symptoms
The incubation period is usually 6 to 13 days. But sometimes it can take 5 to 21 days. Symptoms usually last for 2 to 4 weeks. Mortality rates are generally low. Early symptoms include fever, severe headache, edema, lower back pain, muscle aches, and loss of energy. Within 13 days of the onset of fever, blisters begin to appear on the body. Most blisters are found on the face and limbs. They are also found on the palms, genitals, conjunctiva and cornea.
The severity of the disease depends on the patient’s health status, immunity, and complications of the disease. The disease is most commonly seen in children. Complications of this disease include infections, bronchial pneumonia, sepsis, encephalitis, and corneal infections and subsequent vision loss. The extent to which asymptomatic infections can occur is unknown.
Defense
Avoid unsafe contact with wildlife during illness and handling of their carcasses. Contact with their flesh, blood and other parts should also be avoided. In addition it is important to make sure that the animal meat is well cooked before eating.
The most important cause of viral infections is close contact with infected humans. Health professionals caring for patients who are suspected or confirmed to be infected with the virus and those who handle the secretions of infected people must take generally accepted infection control precautions to prevent infection.
Content Highlights: who may declare monkeypox a global health emergency
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