Monkeypox: The next Covid-19?
Across the internet, people have been talking about a new virus spreading across Sub-Saharan Africa called Monkeypox. While it has not yet reached the same level of concern as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization has declared Monkeypox a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern”. Here’s what we know about Monkeypox so far: It’s a viral illness caused by the Monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus. There are two distinct clades of the virus, clade I and clade II. The recent 2022-2023 global monkeypox outbreak was caused by the much more dangerous clade II strain.
Monkeypox is not a new disease, with outbreaks occurring in Sub-Saharan African countries since 1970. Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. It can also be transmitted through close contact with others who have the virus or contaminated materials. During pregnancy, the virus could also be passed to the fetus or the newborn baby after or during birth. Some common symptoms include skin rashes or mucosal lesions which can last around 2-4 weeks, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. Some individuals might have a rash as the first symptom, while others may have a fever, muscle ache, or sores as their first symptom instead. People who are at a higher risk factor for serious death and illness from monkeypox include pregnant people, people with weak immune systems, children, and people living with HIV that is not well controlled.
Don’t be too frightened by the virus, however, as there are currently vaccines available for Monkeypox. Transmission is less efficient than viruses like Covid-19, so the current outbreak has remained relatively contained compared to the Covid-19 pandemic. Some steps to ensure your safety include, washing hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer, avoiding close contact or touching with those who have the virus, and contacting your healthcare provider if you start showing symptoms of the virus. Those who do have contact with someone with Monkeypox should monitor for signs and symptoms for 21 days and take precautions such as avoiding sexual activity during that period.
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