Today (Friday) the World Health Organization published an introductory guide about the monkeypox virus, after recording about 70 cases so far in Europe, America and Australia.
The virus first appeared among humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, when a 9-year-old child contracted it, in an area from which smallpox disappeared in 1968.
Other experts considered that the spread of this epidemic in Europe may indicate new mutations that are able to spread outside rainy tropical environments.
The organization said that “it is a rare viral disease of zoonosis (the virus is transmitted from animal to human) and its symptoms are similar to those experienced in the past by patients with smallpox, but are less severe.”
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The organization explained that the infection is transmitted mainly from “direct contact with the blood of infected animals, their body fluids, their skin lesions or their mucous fluids.”
Infection can also occur from eating undercooked meat from infected animals, according to the WHO guideline
As for transmission from one person to another, this virus is transmitted through respiratory particles that take the form of droplets that usually require long periods of face-to-face contact, which exposes family members of active cases to a high risk of infection with the disease.
It is also transmitted after close contact with the secretions of the respiratory tract of an infected person or with its skin lesions, or from contact with objects contaminated with the patient’s fluids or pest-causing substances.
Is it a deadly virus?
The organization explained that there is still no data to prove that this virus is able to persist in humans once it is transmitted from one person to another.
On the other hand, the WHO guide notes that “the overall fatality rate does not exceed 10% in documented cases, most of which occur among children. In general, younger groups appear to be more sensitive to monkeypox.”
What are its symptoms?
The incubation period for monkeypox (the period between infection and the onset of symptoms) ranges from 6 to 16 days, but may range from 5 to 21 days, according to the WHO guideline.
The guide divides the stage of infection into two periods: the invasion period (0 to 5 days), which is characterized by fever, severe headache, swollen lymph nodes, back and muscle pain, and severe weakness.
The second period is the appearance of the rash (within a period ranging between 1 and 3 days after the infection of the fever) and the rash begins to appear on the face most often and then spreads to other parts of the body.
According to WHO, “the rash is most severe on the face (in 95% of cases) and on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet (75%). In about 10 days, the rash develops from macular papules (flat-based lesions) to vesicles (small fluid-filled blisters) and pustules. Followed by flares that may take up to three weeks to completely disappear.”
What about treatment and prevention?
The guide notes that there are “no specific drugs or vaccines available to control monkeypox infection, but outbreaks can be controlled”.
However, WHO advises to avoid close physical contact with people infected with monkeypox, to wear gloves and protective equipment when caring for patients, and to wash hands regularly after caring for or visiting them.
It also considers that restricting or banning the transfer of small African mammals and monkeys is an effective contribution to slowing the spread of the virus outside Africa.