Monkeypox Outbreak, A Rising Concern/eMedEvents

Monkeypox is an infectious disease transmitted from animal to human. Mainly found in Central and West Africa. The cases are increasing all over the world. Ever since the first recognized case was confirmed in early May, scientists have been puzzled by the rising number of monkeypox
cases across the globe. It has now been reported in over 30 countries where the virus is not endemic, and over 1,000 cases have
been confirmed worldwide.
On May 6, 2022, the first recognized case of monkeypox was confirmed in a British resident who had recently visited regions of
Nigeria where the disease is endemic. Curiously, as subsequent cases sprung up in England over the course of the month, there
appeared to be no known contact history between each cluster, nor is there evidence of these cases having traveled to endemic
areas.
As of June 6, monkeypox cases have been reported in many European countries, the USA, Canada, most of South America, parts
of Asia, and Australia, along with regions of North Africa to which the virus is not endemic.
Monkeypox is an infectious disease classified as a zoonotic poxvirus, which means that it has been transmitted from animal to
human. It is a double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus, in the family Poxviridae. While related to
smallpox, monkeypox infections tend to be less severe.
Why is it spreading now?
Scientists have yet to determine the cause of the outbreak, though it is currently believed that undetected monkeypox
transmissions have been ongoing for several months preceding the initial case in the UK. Why is it spreading now?
Scientists have yet to determine the cause of the outbreak, though it is currently believed that undetected monkeypox
transmissions have been ongoing for several months preceding the initial case in the UK.
Monkeypox is endemic to West and Central Africa, and while there have been few cases of it appearing in other continents, this
marks the first time in which the virus has spread widely outside of its endemic regions.
What are the symptoms?
Early symptoms can include fever, headache, myalgia, lymphadenopathy, and extreme fatigue, which are followed by a rash
which forms the disease's characteristic lesions-that will then burst and scab over.
The duration between exposure to onset of symptoms is 7-14 days, and the symptoms themselves typically last for 14-28 days.
How is it transmitted?
Prior to the 2022 outbreak, the majority of human monkeypox cases were due to exposure to an infected animal, with the virus
believed to enter through broken skin, the respiratory tract, or the mucous membranes.