Monkeypox Cases Are Rising in West, Alert In Gay Community; Know about all about this disease

by Healthnews24seven Desk

Suddenly multiple cases of monkeypox have been detected in Europe and North America, a virus that spreads from sick animals like rats to humans. The first patient discovered in the United Kingdom had returned from Nigeria on May 6. The World Health Organization said the latest outbreaks are being coordinated with health officials. Against this backdrop, it is important to know about this disease.

WHO is investigating:

After receiving dozens of cases of monkeypox in Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, the World Health Organization (WHO) has sprung into action. The CDC is also looking into the virus’s spread among LGBT patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is conducting contact tracing to identify possible patients at the same time. At this time, health experts believe that a big outbreak of monkeypox is unlikely.

What is monkeypox?

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The virus that causes monkeypox is a member of the smallpox virus family. Monkeypox was originally discovered in a monkey in 1958, and by 1970, it had spread to ten African countries. The first cases were recorded in the United States in 2003. In 2017, Nigeria experienced the world’s greatest outbreak of monkeypox, with 75 percent of sufferers being men.

According to specialists, this condition is extremely rare, yet it can be deadly. Monkeypox is currently found primarily in Central and West African countries.

How does it spread?

Monkeypox is thought to spread through close contact with an infected person, according to experts. After releasing from the patient’s wound, the virus enters the body through the eyes, nose, and mouth. Infected monkeys, dogs, and squirrels, as well as bedding and clothing that has come into touch with the patient, can spread the disease. Monkeypox can last anywhere from 7 to 21 days in a patient.

Symptoms:

Monkeypox has flu-like symptoms at first. Fever, headache, muscle aches, back discomfort, chills, exhaustion, and swollen lymph nodes are among the symptoms. Following this, a rash appears on the face, which can then spread to other regions of the body. This rash fluctuates dramatically during infection and eventually breaks off as a scab, similar to chickenpox.

Treatment:

The smallpox vaccine, according to the CDC, is also effective against monkeypox infection. In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Jynneos, a vaccination to prevent this rare condition. The European Medicines Agency, on the other hand, authorized it in 2013. The vaccination, however, can only be given to adults above the age of 18.

Link with gay community:

According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the majority of cases of monkeypox found in the UK so far are men who identify as gay or bisexual. This implies that these males have had male partners. As a result, the agency has issued a warning to gay men. Monkeypox has never been thought of as a sexually transmitted illness. Nonetheless, health professionals have advised gay and bisexual men to seek quick medical attention if they exhibit any symptoms.