AgenciesIn the middle of a pandemic, every new infectious disease that makes headway can stir anxiety and fear. The newest one to do that is monkeypox, a case of which was recently discovered in the UK, and has since then made many people inquisitive about why this ailment happens, and how it spreads.
Monkeypox is a virus transmitted to humans from animals. It has symptoms similar to smallpox, although, the good news is that it is less severe in nature. The first case of this ailment was detected in 1970, and the sporadic reports of its occurance is still found in Central and West Africa, and areas in close proximity to tropical rainforests. After the eradication of smallpox, it has emerged as the most important orthopoxvirus according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The virus is transmitted from animals, especially rodents, and can pass from person to person if there is a contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding.
Symptoms of Monkeypox
During the invasion phase fever, intense headache, back pain, muscle aches and intense fatigue is experienced by the individual who has been attacked by the virus. However, swelling of lymph nodes is the most obvious sign of this virus entering your body.
Rashes appear within 1-3 days of the fever, and is seen in extremities of the body, and on the face. The rash evolves subsequently from lesions with a flat base to form slightly raised firm lesions, and then these raised lesions are filled with clear fluid or yellow fluids. These lesions run their course, the watery substance inside dries out, and then fall off.
WHO states that, "The case fatality ratio of monkeypox has varied between 0 and 11 % in the general population, and has been higher among young children."
Moreover, since persons younger than 40 or 50 years of age never received the smallpox vaccine, as the disease was eradicated before they were born, they may be more susceptible to this virus.
Monkeypox is a virus transmitted to humans from animals. It has symptoms similar to smallpox, although, the good news is that it is less severe in nature. The first case of this ailment was detected in 1970, and the sporadic reports of its occurance is still found in Central and West Africa, and areas in close proximity to tropical rainforests. After the eradication of smallpox, it has emerged as the most important orthopoxvirus according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The virus is transmitted from animals, especially rodents, and can pass from person to person if there is a contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding.
Symptoms of Monkeypox
During the invasion phase fever, intense headache, back pain, muscle aches and intense fatigue is experienced by the individual who has been attacked by the virus. However, swelling of lymph nodes is the most obvious sign of this virus entering your body.
Rashes appear within 1-3 days of the fever, and is seen in extremities of the body, and on the face. The rash evolves subsequently from lesions with a flat base to form slightly raised firm lesions, and then these raised lesions are filled with clear fluid or yellow fluids. These lesions run their course, the watery substance inside dries out, and then fall off.
WHO states that, "The case fatality ratio of monkeypox has varied between 0 and 11 % in the general population, and has been higher among young children."
Moreover, since persons younger than 40 or 50 years of age never received the smallpox vaccine, as the disease was eradicated before they were born, they may be more susceptible to this virus.
(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2024 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)
Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online.
(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2024 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)
Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online.
Get Unlimited Access to The Economic Times
