While the world is still recovering from the damage caused by the Covid-19 virus, a new infection is now causing another conflict, a virus caused by a similar present eradicated smallpox virus, and it is called monkeypox virus. This virus is expected in the part of African countries, but the outbreak has already occurred in other areas from time to time. In 2022, the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency because this monkeypox had already spread to different countries through social and intimate interactions and contacts.
Monkeypox can be spread by close contact and exposure to a person infected through his respiratory droplets and skin lesions or bodily fluid, almost similar to how the Covid-19 virus can be transmitted. The symptoms of monkeypox include swollen lymph nodes, fever, and a rash that can be mistakenly identified as chickenpox or a sexually transmitted disease if the rashes are found in the genital or anal region.
In most cases, monkeypox can heal naturally or go away on its own within weeks. Still, this infection can lead to complications or even death for some people, especially those lacking in nutrients like the people in Africa. Based on previous data, the ones that can be fatally affected by the monkeypox virus, which are higher at risk and can have more severe symptoms and may lead to death, are newborn babies, children, and those who have immune deficiencies. The monkeypox virus can bring secondary skin infections, pneumonia, confusion, and eye problems. As of recently, there are more complications that monkeypox can cause: proctitis, sores, and swelling inside the rectum that causes pain when urinating. The death ratio of people who had monkeypox is between 1% to 10%, but different factors should be considered when looking at these death rates, factors such as access to health care. Deaths have been reported in the new countries that have undergone the outbreak. This makes the or underscores the fact that monkeypox is a serious disease and that people should continue to take precautionary measures to protect themselves and the people around them.
As the transmission of monkeypox is said to be similar to how the Covid-19 virus is transmitted, the transmission through air monkeypox is not yet well understood, and further studies are still ongoing to identify if it is possible to be transmitted through the air. Still, according to World Health Organization, monkeypox can be transferred between humans and animals. It can happen when a human has physical contact with an infected animal, animals that are non-human primates, terrestrial rodent, antelope, gazelle, or tree squirrel; if one of these animals bites or caused scratch a human, then this is a way how the monkeypox virus is transmitted, eating infected animals can also be a way of transmission if the meat is not properly cooked. This transmission can be avoided by reducing or avoiding contact with wild animals and food containing animal parts, or meat should be cooked appropriately.
Covid-19 taught us a lot of different things, especially how to control and minimize the spread of the virus. This can be applied to avoid getting infected by the monkeypox virus, reduce the risk of getting infected by the virus, and limit interaction with other people. One of the most effective practices to do is to be informed and updated about the status of the virus in your area, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, and use alcohol to help reduce the risk of being infected by monkeypox.
If you suspect yourself to be infected by the virus, you don’t want to spread it to your loved ones. Better act accordingly to keep others safe and protect them from infection. If infected, one should seek medical advice as soon as possible after experiencing symptoms. It is best to isolate yourself until you are tested and have the result to limit the risk of transmitting it through physical contact. When the result comes out, and you are confirmed positive, stay isolated until the sores are gone already, the scabs on your skin fall off, and there are new layers of your skin underneath, and even the sores inside your body should be healed. In this way, you have already protected your family from being infected; better to ask the health workers if it is better to isolate them at home or in the health facility. Based on studies, transmission can also be through sexual fluids, so it is advisable to use condoms as a precaution when having sexual intercourse for 12 weeks after your recovery period.
Vaccines for monkeypox are already present, and there are three of those; even though the supply is limited now, it is highly advised to be vaccinated if offered, for it gives a valuable layer of protection against this monkeypox virus. After getting vaccinated, one should still follow the safety precautions because it takes several weeks before immunity develops. Some countries are recommending that those at risk should consider being vaccinated.
Within years of research, it has led to the development of a newer and safer type of vaccines that are known to cure a disease called smallpox, which can be helpful against monkeypox; two of the said vaccines which are MVA-BN and LC16, have already been approved to prevent monkeypox although mass vaccination is not recommended at this current situation.
While it shows from previous data that vaccines for smallpox help in preventing the monkeypox virus, the current data for newer vaccines for preventing monkeypox clinically and in field settings are limited. But studying the use of vaccines for monkeypox wherever they will be used is allowed for rapid generation of data for additional information on the effectiveness of vaccines against monkeypox virus.
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