The monkeypox outbreak has been declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization, but it is not a disease that the general public has been familiar with.
The monkeypox virus has been found in more than 70 countries and has not been reported in many of them. In the US, there have been confirmed cases in all but six states.
Members of the scientific community have been concerned about the potential of a monkeypox epidemic.
Here are the things you need to know about monkeypox, how to protect yourself and what to do if you think you have it.
The only similarity between the two diseases is that they're aviruses. Monkeypox is similar to smallpox, which was eradicated in 1980.
There are two orthopoxviruses. Monkeypox isn't as deadly as smallpox. Some researchers are concerned that monkeypox could become a bigger threat to humans.
Monkeypox could become an epidemic if it were to be introduced to an unvaccinated population, according to one study.
The study says that there is a chance for monkeypox to fill in the gap left by the eradication of smallpox. An extended chain of person-to- person transmissions of monkeypox in the Republic ofCongo in 2003 shows the potential for further adaptation of the virus to become a more successful human pathogen.
Most monkeypox cases outside of Africa were linked to international travel and imported animals.
Monkeypox was discovered in colonies of monkeys used for research in the 1960's. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the source of the disease is not known.
There was only one outbreak in the U.S. in 2003 and it was in six states. The CDC said at the time that the outbreak was caused by prairie dogs that came into contact with rodents that had been exposed to the disease.
The signs and symptoms of monkeypox are similar to those ofpox.
The CDC states that a rash can be similar to blisters. It can grow all over the human body.
Doctors are seeing a more subtle rash in some patients. NPR has reported that some people developed a single lesion that could be mistaken for a STD.
Donald Vinh told NPR last month that he thought it was supercritical. These patients can be missed if you don't pay attention. They are still spreading the disease, even though they are not dead.
According to the CDC, the rash lasts two to four weeks and can be developed before other symptoms appear.
The version of monkeypox that's spreading across the globe isn't particularly dangerous. More than 99% of patients can survive according to the CDC.
Children under the age of 8, people with compromised immune systems and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding are at risk of dying from an infectious disease.
Scaring from the rash is the most common outcome of infections. According to research published in 2009, monkeypox can cause cardiopulmonary distress and bronchopneumonia, which can be life threatening. In serious cases, the virus can cause permanent vision loss.
The risk of contracting monkeypox in the US is low, but anyone who comes into close contact with an individual carrying the disease is at risk.
The current outbreak is spread from one person to another. The WHO warns that if you spend too much time face-to-face with a monkeypox carrier you could develop an infectious disease.
The virus can be spread through physical contact and the exchange of bodily fluids. A person could become infectious by touching items and surfaces shared with someone with symptoms.
The CDC advises people to exercise caution in situations where they can't maintain a sense of personal space and bumping into other people is impractical. The risk increases in places where clothing is minimal and you can experience contact.
If you don't have time to do your laundry, the CDC recommends that you keep potentially contaminated items out of your home. It's a good idea to wash your hands with soap and water when you're cleaning.
Keeping up-to-date on the spread of the virus is one way to keep yourself and your family safe. The CDC map shows monkeypox cases by state as well as state and local health department notifications.
The CDC says that monkeypox isn't a sexually transmitted disease, but researchers are still trying to figure out if the virus can be found in semen, vaginal fluids and feces. Ask your partner or partners to be open about their exposure to the virus if you are sexually active.
C-sections are recommended for pregnant women who are about to give birth to reduce the risk of transmission. There have been reports of stillbirths and premature births.
If you're experiencing symptoms or think you've come into contact with a potential carrier, the first thing to do is to stay away from one another. Reach out to a health care provider to find out if you should be tested.
It can be difficult to get a test. According to scientists, the outbreak in the U.S. is larger than the official count of cases.
People who believe they may have been exposed to something are being advised by the WHO to limit contact with others while they wait for the results of their tests.
Should you test positive, your health care provider will tell you what to do. Symptoms should clear up on their own in two to four weeks without the need for treatment, according to the World Health Organization.
The WHO has some tips for people who are experiencing tell-tale symptoms.
If you live in a household with other people, use a designated bathroom in your room. Do your own laundry and use separate eating utensils. If you can, open your windows whenever you can, but don't sweep or vacuum the floor, which could cause more infections.
The U.S. uses two types of vaccine to fight monkeypox, and it's believed that they could be 85% effective. There is no data on the effectiveness of the vaccine in the current outbreak.
People who have been exposed to monkeypox and haven't had a vaccine within 3 years should get one sooner than later, according to the CDC. Individuals should be inoculated no later than four days after exposure and no later than two weeks after.
The vaccines can cause some side effects, such as redness and itching at the vaccine site.
Unfortunately, there's a limited supply of one of the vaccines, more are expected to be made available in the coming weeks and months, and the other shouldn't be taken by people with a weakened immune system or pregnant women
All Rights Reserved © 2024
