Monkeypox is becoming a growing concern as the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed about 80 cases in 12 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and Israel. This is as the world continues to deal with Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine.
Current situation
The Monkeypox outbreak was first identified in the UK, which then spread to other European countries including Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Italy and Sweden.
- Although global health experts say that the chances of the public contacting the risk is low, persons with high-risk contact cases should go into isolation for a period of 21days.
- Belgium, last Friday announced a 3 weeks quarantine period for the infected.
- The symptoms for the virus include fever, body aches, swellings and itchy rash mainly on the face, hands and feet.
What they are saying
WHO head, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the virus is just one of the various health crises in the world at the moment.
- Dr Susan Hopkins, the chief medical adviser of the UK Health Security Agency, says they are confirming more cases daily, but the risk to the public is still low.
What you should know
- The virus is spread by being in close contact with an infected person or touching the clothing of beddings of an infected person.
- Monkeypox is a very predictable virus, as it is more common in wild animals in rodents than monkeys. Being out of its natural habitat, the virus needs close contact to keep spreading or it would eventually die out on its own.
- Health experts are still studying the virus to understand the reason for the sudden outbreak. One theory claims the virus has possibly evolved in some way, while another theory claims that the virus is thriving in the right place at the right time.
- The treatment of Monkeypox is a jab of smallpox vaccine, as the latter offers about 85% protection due to their similarities.