Monkeypox

[iPinoys]

What is monkeypox and how serious is it?
The monkeypox virus causes fever and a bumpy rash and is usually transmitted to people from wild animals but human transmission is possible.
A handful of cases of monkeypox have now been reported or are suspected in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, the United States, Canada & and one case in UAE.
Here’s what we know so far about monkeypox

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a usually mild virus that causes a fever as well as a distinctive bumpy rash. There are two main strains: the Congo strain, which is more severe – with up to 10 percent mortality – and the West African strain, which has a fatality rate of 1 percent of cases. The UK infections have been reported as the West African strain.

“Historically, there have been very few cases exported. It has only happened eight times in the past before this year,” said Dr Jimmy Whitworth, a professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He added it was “highly unusual”.

How does a person get monkeypox?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus is transmitted mainly to people from wild animals such as rodents and primates, but human-to-human transmission is also possible.
Human-to-human transmission occurs by contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials such as bedding. Eating inadequately cooked meat and other products of infected animals is also a possible risk factor, the WHO says.
This time, transmission is puzzling health experts because a number of cases in the UK have no known connection to one another. The first reported infected person on May 6 had recently travelled to Nigeria.
As such, experts have warned of wider transmission if cases have gone unreported.
The UK Health Security Agency’s alert also highlighted that the recent cases were predominantly among men who self-identified as gay or bisexual and advised caution.

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