Monkeypox Explained: Transmission, Symptoms, Vaccines and Treatment

Monkeypox is what it is.

Monkeypox is a disease caused by aviruses in the orthopoxviruses group. The monkeypox virus was first found in monkeys in a lab in 1959 but it's more often found in rodents and other animals. The virus has been found in a number of animal species in Central and West Africa. People outside of Africa have been exposed to the virus, and people in the U.S. were affected by it. The disease began to spread in Europe, the U.S. and other countries. The first US case in the current outbreak was in Massachusetts. The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern and the U.S. secretary of health and human services declared monkeypox a national public health

What is the transmission of monkeypox like?

The most efficient way for the virus to spread is through skin-to-skin contact and sex. It is not solely a sexually transmitted disease. It can be spread through close contact of any kind and can also be spread through contact with contaminated objects such as bedding, clothing, or eating utensils.

Paul Auwaerter is the clinical director of the division of infectious diseases at the school. 99 percent of U.S. cases occurred in men, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. Sex isn't an STD because the virus can be transmitted through other forms of close contact It is one way we believe transmission can happen.

Wafaa El-Sadr is a professor of epidemiology and medicine at Columbia University.

The illness can last up to four weeks. The scientists are trying to figure out if the virus can be transmitted without symptoms.

The symptoms are what they are.

There are a number of symptoms, including a rash, fatigue, and swelling of the lymphatic area. It's possible to have a rash and not have a flulike symptom. Proctitis, also known as penile swelling or rectal pain, is one of the causes of the current outbreak. Lesions can be seen on the body parts. Symptoms usually show up within three weeks. Within two to four weeks, the skin begins to peel off.

The current outbreak of monkeypox has presented differently than previous ones. El-Sadr says that most people don't have a lot of skin problems. The genital or anal area, in the mouth and inside the rectum, can cause a lot of pain and can be different from other parts of the body. El-Sadr says that people can't urinate, they can't defecate, and they can't swallow.

Is it really that bad?

Most of the cases have been mild to moderate and have been resolved on their own. It is from the same family as the deadly disease. El-Sadr says that it doesn't cause disease the same way as smallpox. Some people have been hospitalized for blisters that are very painful. Children and people who are immunocompromised are more likely to get severe illness.

It seems to have a lower case-fatality rate than the one caused by the coronaviruses. That doesn't mean it can't cause a lot of disability.

Who is most vulnerable?

The disease has affected many people in Central and West Africa. Most of the cases so far have been in gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men who have had multiple sex partners. The risk to the general public is low at the moment. The MSM community can still be affected by the virus. There have been cases of children and health care workers who have been exposed to monkeypox in the current outbreak.

Do you know what to do if you have a disease?

If you have symptoms of monkeypox, have had intimate contact with someone who has monkeypox, or have had multiple sex partners in the MSM community, you should see a doctor. Testing is now available at a number of labs around the country, including Labcorp and others. The characteristicimples are the subject of the test. To prevent further transmission and to get treatment, it is important to get care as soon as possible.

If you have monkeypox, it's a good idea to stay away from other people until you're symptom free. El-Sadr says that people with monkeypox should stay in a separate room in the house and not mix with other people. They can only leave for emergencies. She says that if they do that, they need to cover any blisters on their body.

El-Sadr says the most important thing is for the person to be aware of monkeypox so they can be evaluated. It is important for the providers to be aware of it.

Which treatments are available?

Treatments for monkeypox are not approved. The Strategic National Stockpile has a drug that can be used for monkeypox. Medical providers have to fill out paperwork in order to use the drug. The process has been simplified by the CDC and the FDA. Severe disease, hospitalization or immune suppression are some of the criteria that need to be met in order to access TPOXX. It's not clear how effective TPOXX is in humans because there are very few data. It is possible for the FDA to make it easier to get the drug.

Is there any vaccine that is available?

There are twovaccines for monkeypox The FDA gave the go-ahead for the vaccine to be used for monkeypox and smallpox. The vaccine contains a virus that cannot replicate in the body, so it's the preferred one. The ACAM2000 vaccine is approved for use for monkeypox and is available for purchase. The vaccine should not be used in people with HIV who are immunocompromised.

Poor planning has led to a shortage of the two-dose JYNNEOS vaccine. More than 600,000 of the 1.1 million doses allocated by the Department of Health and Human Services were shipped. Some states have only given the first dose of the vaccine regimen until they have more.

Dose sparing is a strategy approved by the FDA.

Do you know what dose sparing is and how it works?

The strategy of sparing vaccine is called dose sparing. An EUA has been issued by the FDA for the vaccine to be given as one fifth of a regular dose, a shallow injection under the skin, which is thought to generate strong protection with a smaller dose. The data from the 2015 study was used to create the EUA, as it showed that the injection method produced the same immune response as a normal injection. It's fairly uncommon to use this method to perform a skin test for Tuberculosis. Some health care providers won't be able to perform injections properly if they are too deep. The vaccine may leak out if they are too shallow. The strategy increases the number of people who can be protected from vaccine-related diseases.

The community that is most affected by monkeypox is stigmatized.

The MSM community is the most at risk of the current outbreak of monkeypox, and many health experts are concerned about the stigma that comes with it. According to El-Sadr, men who have sex with men in many settings are stigmatized and discriminated against. This could have a domino effect on the population as a whole. If you stigmatize a group of people, they won't come forward to be diagnosed if they suspect they have an STD. El-Sadr says that they won't come in and get vaccinations. Control of the outbreak is jeopardized by that.

Will the outbreak be contained or will it spread?

Monkeypox will become endemic in the U.S. if we don't control it. It's already too late for some people.

El-Sadr says it depends on what happens over the next couple of months. She says she thinks we have a chance if we know more about the disease. The window of opportunity is close.