Monkeypox Cases in the UK On the Rise
Monkeypox is a viral infection, common in West and Central Africa. Cases in Europe have occurred before, but usually in small numbers. Some people have compared it to smallpox, but it’s actually milder, less infectious and less deadly. It is called monkeypox because it was first discovered in monkeys in a lab back in 1958, but it can be transmitted to humans via other animals too.
It usually disappears within a week on its own, and people usually recover without long-term health effects.
What are the symptoms?
>>> Fever
>>> Headache
>>> Muscle aches
>>> Backache
>>> Swollen lymph nodes
>>> Chills
>>> Exhaustion
>>> Weakness
>>> Rash
The rash can start on the face before moving to the body. It gradually transforms, and can form sores comparable to chickenpox or syphilis before scabbing. The scab falls off but can leave a scar. The incubation period (the time before symptoms appear) is usually from six to 13 days but can range from five to 21 days.
How is it transmitted?
Usually monkeypox can be traced back to travel from West and Central Africa, where people have picked up the infection from animals in rainforests.
However, recent numbers suggest that is no longer the case. As the WHO explains: “The identification of confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox with no direct travel links to an endemic area represents a highly unusual event.”
Transmission appears to be occurring between people who have close physical contact, where people have direct contact with a lesion, respiratory droplets or contaminated materials like bedding, clothes or utensils.
This has falsely led some to believe monkeypox can be listed as a sexually transmitted infection, but it does not pass through sexual fluids.
Even so, this has sent some alarm bells ringing because monkeypox transmission has never been described this way before.
Most of the UK cases so far are among “individuals who self-identify as gay, or bisexual, or other men who have sex with men”, according to the UKHSA’s Dr Susan Hopkins.
Is there a vaccine?
There is no specific vaccine for monkeypox widely available at the moment.
How can people avoid it?
The WHO recommends protecting yourself by avoiding skin to skin or face to face contact with anyone with symptoms.
It recommends practising safer sex too, and keeping your hands clean with water and soap, or hand sanitiser, and maintain respiratory etiquette.
The UKHSA has recommended that anyone with a high risk of catching monkeypox after having direct or household contact with a confirmed case, should isolate for three weeks.
Source: Huffpost