Monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus that causes a disease with symptoms similar, but less severe, to smallpox. While smallpox was eradicated in 1980, monkeypox continues to occur in countries of central and West Africa. Two distinct clades are identified: the west African clade and the Congo Basin clade, also known as the central African clade.
Monkeypox is a zoonotic: a disease that is transmitted from animals to humans. Cases often found close to tropical rainforests, where there are animals that carry the virus. Evidence of monkeypox virus infection has found in animals including squirrels, Gambian poached rats, dormice, different species of monkeys and others.
Human-to-human transmission is limited, with the longest documented chain of transmission being 6 generations, meaning that the last person to be infected in this chain was 6 links away from the original sick person. It can be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, lesions on the skin or on internal mucosal surfaces, such as in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects.
Detection of viral DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the preferred laboratory test for monkeypox. The best diagnostic specimens are directly from the rash – skin, fluid or crusts, or biopsy where feasible. Antigen and antibody detection methods may not be useful as they do not distinguish between orthopoxviruses.
About:
It is a viral zoonotic disease (transmission from animals to humans) and is identified as a pox-like disease among monkeys, hence it is named Monkeypox. It is endemic to Nigeria.
It is caused by monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Potyviridae.
The natural host of the virus remains undefined. But the disease has been reported in many animals.
Animals known to be sources of Monkeypox virus include monkeys and apes, a variety of rodents (including rats, mice, squirrels and prairie dogs) and rabbits.
Outbreaks:
It was first reported in 1958, in monkeys in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and in humans in 1970, also in the DRC.
In 2017, Nigeria experienced the largest documented outbreak, 40 years after the last confirmed case.
Subsequently, the disease has been reported in many West and Central African countries.
Symptoms:
Infected people break out in a rash that looks a lot like chicken pox. But the fever, malaise, and headache from Monkeypox are usually more severe than in chicken pox infection.
In the early stage of the disease, Monkeypox can be distinguished from smallpox because the lymph gland gets enlarged.
Transmission:
Primary infection is through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal lesions of an infected animal. Eating inadequately cooked meat of infected animals is also a risk factor.
Human-to-human transmission can result from close contact with infected respiratory tract secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or objects recently contaminated by patient fluids or lesion materials.
Transmission can also occur by inoculation or via the placenta (congenital monkeypox).
Vulnerability:
It spreads rapidly and can cause one out of ten deaths if infected.
Treatment and Vaccine:
There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for Monkeypox infection. In the past, the anti-smallpox vaccine was shown to be 85% effective in preventing Monkeypox.
But the world declared free of smallpox in 1980, so the vaccine isn’t widely available anymore.
Currently, there is no global system in place to manage the spread of Monkeypox, with each country struggling to contain any outbreak whenever it occurs.
Way Forward
Improved surveillance and response, raise awareness of the disease and avoid contact with wild animals, especially monkeys.
Any animals that might have come into contact with an infected animal should be quarantined, handled with standard precautions and observed for monkeypox symptoms for 30 days.
It is important to refocus attention on other diseases. There is a drop in the number of reported cases of endemic diseases as people are not seeking care in health facilities, owing to Covid-19.
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