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Monkeypox: Symptoms, causes, treatment and everything about the viral illness

Know about the viral illness along with the symptoms, causes, treatment and preventive measures of Monkeypox

By Newsd
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Monkeypox: Symptoms, causes, treatment and everything about the viral illness

After a case of monkeypox was reported in Singapore, an alert has been sounded in South Asia. On May 9, the Singapore Ministry of Health told the media that a Nigerian national who came to the city had been carrying the viral disease.

Monkeypox is quite similar to smallpox and is spread mainly through the rodents and primates. As per a report by a media portal, the Nigerian man is suspected to have eaten bushmeat (meat of wild animals) before he came to Singapore.

Know about the viral illness along with the symptoms, causes, treatment and preventive measures of Monkeypox.

What is Monkeypox?

It is a disease that is similar to smallpox and belongs to the Poxviridae family of viruses. The main difference between the two diseases is that smallpox has been declared eradicated but the human Monkeypox virus is still endemic in Central and West Africa, as per WHO (World Health Organization).

The disease is known as Monkey Pox from the time it was first discovered in the monkeys in 1958. It is common in rainforests of Africa where humans routinely come in contact with animals carrying the virus. But there is no evidence of person to person transmission.

Monkeypox symptoms

Symptoms of monkeypox last from 14 to 21 days. The common signs of monkeypox include:

  • Fever
  • Throbbing headache
  • Swelling of the joints
  • Back pain, muscle pain
  • Fatigue
  • Malaise
  • Skin rashes that start on the face which later spread to the body
  • Lesions on the skin
  • Blisters and pustules which become crusty.

How is Monkeypox diagnosed?

The diagnose is similar to that as of smallpox. It has rashes like that as of smallpox, chickenpox, measles, bacterial skin infection, scabies, syphilis and medicine induced allergies. The disease is diagnosed in specialized labs that use no. of different tests.

How is Monkeypox treated?

There is no such treatment or vaccines for Monkeypox but the outbreak can be controlled. Vaccines for smallpox have been proven to be 85 percent effective in preventing Monkeypox. The vaccines for smallpox were discontinued after it was eradicated in the 1980s.

Since many people are vaccinated for smallpox, they may face a milder form of monkeypox if infected.

How is Monkeypox prevented?

The disease is caused mainly due to infected rodents and monkeys. So avoiding the contact from them is the first step towards prevention.

The virus also spreads through bushmeat and undercooked meat, so eating such meats should be avoided. Physical contact with people who are infected should be avoided at least protective gear such as gloves, masks, etc should be worn.

Doctors or healthcare workers who handle the infected on a routine should also take care to avoid any direct blood exposures. They should get immunized against smallpox before they handle patients with monkeypox.

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