Monkeypox or simian pox is an infectious viral disease.
The epidemic affects an increasing number of countries, so on July 23, 2022, the WHO declared monkeypox an international health emergency. This will trigger a series of actions by member countries.
What is monkeypox? Where does it come from? What are its symptoms and how can they be treated?
Would you like to know all the answers? Read our article!
The monkey pox also known as monkeypox, simian orthopoxvirus either Monkeypox in English.
The name monkeypox is debatable because it is not a disease specifically associated with monkeys. The WHO has begun to consider the possibility of changing the name of this disease.
Monkeypox is a type of virus that uses humans as its natural host. This virus is related to the smallpox virus.
A few facts about monkeypox
Spain is the most affected european country for this epidemic, yen the second half of August 2022 has already confirmed more than 6,000 cases. The notified cases come from all the autonomous communities, mainly from Madrid, and of them, a total of 6,009 are men and 110 are women.
None of these cases is directly related to travel to West or Central Africa, or to people returning from travel.
The National Epidemiological Surveillance Network offers a link to be informed of the number of cases at all times: Monkey pox (Monkeypox)
There are currently more than 20,000 confirmed cases worldwide, with 79 deaths as of early August 2022, including 4 outside of Africa (2 in Spain, 1 in Brazil, and 1 in India). Little information is available on the profile of the deceased.
What is the origin of monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans by animals, known as zoonosis. It is usually transmitted to humans by rodents or primates. The virus can then circulate from one human to another.
It is usually found in West or Central Africa, near tropical forests, and increasingly in urban areas.
Monkeypox was first identified in humans in 1970 in Africa. In 2003, the first outbreak of monkeypox outside of Africa occurred in the United States of America. In May 2022, several cases of monkeypox were reported in non-endemic countries.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
Monkeypox symptoms begin with:
- Fever,
- Headache,
- Throat pain,
- Muscle pain,
- Enlarged lymphadenopathy or lymph nodes
- A skin rash after a few days, mainly on the face, the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, the ano-genital area, and also the trunk and extremities,
- Itch.
The monkeypox skin rash consists of macules (flat lesions), then papules (raised lesions), then vesicles (fluid-filled lesions) that progress to dryness and become pustules, ending as scabs when healed.
The evolution of this type of disease is usually benign, and monkeypox is cured in 2-4 weeks. The incubation period can be from 5 to 21 days. The fever phase lasts between 1 and 3 days.
Complications occur in 1-10% of cases, but monkeypox is more serious in children, pregnant women, and immunosuppressed people.
Complications may arise from superinfection of skin lesions or from respiratory, digestive, ophthalmological, or neurological damage.
It is not advisable to scratch the lesions to avoid reinoculation of the virus. To limit the risks, it is advisable to cover them.
How is monkeypox diagnosed?
To make the diagnosis, the consulted doctor will have to do a differential diagnosis and eliminate other eruptive diseases such as chickenpox, shingles, measles, etc.
Confirmation of the diagnosis is made by a biological test, a PCR, a molecular biology technique identical to the one used for the detection of the Covid-19 virus. The sample is preferably taken from the skin with a swab and ideally a biopsy by rubbing several vesicles; It can also be taken from the nose and throat if the person has a rash in the mouth or throat.
How is monkeypox spread?
A person infected with monkeypox is contagious as soon as symptoms appear, which means that as long as there are no symptoms, there is no risk of transmission. However, once the disease has appeared, the infected person is contagious. until lesions have completely healed.
The virus can be transmitted by direct contact with skin lesions or mucous membranes of an infected person, as well as by droplets (saliva, sneezes, sputum). Sexual relations, with or without penetration, fulfill these conditions of contamination. It can also occur through contact with the environment of the infected person, bedding, clothes, etc. Therefore, it is important that patients remain isolated for the duration of the illness and until the last scabs have disappeared.
In case of virus contamination, it is Isolation of the sick person and the application of barrier measures are essential. Must also avoid contact with petssince the risks of transmission and retransmission to humans are high.
How to prevent monkeypox contamination?
Monkeypox can affect anyone.
From what has been observed in the affected countries, it appears that the cases are more numerous among MSMan acronym that refers to all men who have sex with men, regardless of whether they identify as heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual.
Preventive vaccination is recommended for: MSM, trans people with multiple sexual partners, professionals working in sex work places and sex workers.
Preventive vaccination of healthcare professionals is considered on a case-by-case basis, based on exposure, the existence of individual risk factors, or at their request.
Vaccination is also recommended with:
- Two doses post-exposure, that is, for people in risk contact with an infected person,
- A single dose is sufficient for people who were vaccinated against smallpox in childhood, that is, before 1980,
- Three doses are required for immunosuppressed people.
The two available vaccines are Imvanex® Y Jynneos®, are interchangeable, a first dose of one does not prevent a second dose of the second. These vaccines are known as third generation vaccines, they are improved to induce fewer side effects.
Vaccination does not confer immediate protection.
Simultaneous administration of the vaccine with other vaccines, such as Covid-19, or with drugs or immunoglobulin infusion has not been studied either.
Vaccines are effective in preventing monkeypox infection and severe disease even several days after exposure to the virus.
How is monkeypox treated?
Proper medical treatment greatly reduces the risk of complications from monkeypox. Most people recover spontaneously.
In general, it is only necessary a symptomatic treatmentfor example, to stop fever (paracetamol) and soothe itching. The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is contraindicatedas they can cause serious forms of infection.
To prevent scratching of the skin, superinfection of the lesions and transmission of the virus, they can be prescribed antihistamines.
For the most frail people, an infectious disease specialist may prescribe an antiviral treatment (tecovirimat) or immunoglobulins.
Some countries have established regulations that restrict the importation of rodents and primatesmain transmitters of the orthopoxvirus.
It is usually a virus that is not easily transmitted from person to person, except in cases of close and prolonged contact between two people. Interhuman transmission seems to be more important than expected and raises questions. Studies are underway to learn more about the increase in interhuman transmission, especially through respiratory droplets, which may play a role in disease transmission. Other studies show that this pattern of transmission is probably due to the worldwide decline in immunity against viruses of the orthopoxvirus genus after the end of smallpox vaccination in the 1980s.
The Health Services of each autonomous community have created individual telephone information platforms to answer any questions about the current epidemic.
The call is free, anonymous and confidential.
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