Basic Introduction about Monkeypox Virus:
The disease was first discovered in laboratory monkeys in 1958. Monkeypox is caused by Monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus group of viruses like small pox and cowpox viruses. A few thousand cases occur in Africa, typically in the western and central parts of the continent. The illness typically lasts for 2 to 4 weeks. Symptom includes fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes. It is transmitted virus if a person close contact with infected people or animals. There is no Vaccine found for Monkeypox virus. Infected people treated with Smallpox Vaccine.
Science behind the virus:
It is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the Orthopoxvirus of the Poxviridae family. There are two distinct genetic clades of the monkeypox virus.
- Central African clade
- West African clade.
Signs and Symptoms:
Symptom includes fever, rash, headache, back pain and swollen lymph nodes. Incubation Period includes 7 to 12 days, but can range from 5 to 21 days. Severe cases occur more commonly among children and are related to the extent of virus exposure, patient health status and nature of complications.
How is Monkeypox Spread?
It can spread to people when they are bitten by an animal which is infected with monkeypox or when they touch the blood, body fluids of an infected animal. In the United States in 2003, monkeypox was reported among several people who had contact with sick pet dogs that had contact with imported African. Sometimes, monkeypox virus is spread from person to person through close contact with infected person.
Therapeutics
Clinical care for monkeypox should be fully optimized to alleviate symptoms, manage complications and prevent long-term sequelae. Patients should be offered fluids and food to maintain adequate nutritional status. Secondary bacterial infections should be treated as indicated. An antiviral agent known as tecovirimat that was developed for smallpox was licensed by the European Medical Association (EMA) for monkeypox in 2022 based on data in animal and human studies. It is not yet widely available.
If used for patient care, tecovirimat should ideally be monitored in a clinical research context with prospective data collection.
Vaccination:
There is no active vaccination discoverd for Monkeypox Virus. As monkeypox virus is similiar symptoms to smallpox virus, the smallpox vaccine is currently used for monkeypox infected people.Smallpox and monkeypox vaccines are developed in formulations based on the vaccinia virus due to cross-protection afforded for the immune response to orthopoxviruses.
Reducing the risk of zoonotic transmission:
Over time, most human infections have resulted from a primary, animal-to-human transmission. Unprotected contact with wild animals, especially those that are sick or dead, including their meat, blood and other parts must be avoided. Additionally, all foods containing animal meat or parts must be thoroughly cooked before eating.
Prevention:
One of the best factor is educating people about the measures they can take to reduce exposure to the virus is the main prevention strategy for monkeypox. Scientific studies are now underway to assess the feasibility and appropriateness of vaccination for the prevention and control of monkeypox. Some countries have, or are developing, policies to offer vaccine to persons who may be at risk such as laboratory personnel, rapid response teams and health workers.
Key Facts:
- Monkeypox is caused by Monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus.
- Monkeypox is usually a self-limited disease with the symptoms lasting from 2 to 4 weeks.
- In recent times, the case fatality ratio has been around 3-6%.
- Symptoms includes fever, backpain, swollen lymph and rash.
- It is transmitted to humans when they contact with infected person or if they contacted with the infected animals.
- The clinical presentation of monkeypox resembles that of smallpox, a related orthopoxvirus infection which was declared eradicated worldwide in 1980. Monkeypox is less contagious than smallpox and causes less severe illness.
- Vaccines used during the smallpox eradication also provided protection against monkeypox.
- Newer vaccines have been developed of which one has been approved for prevention of monkeypox.
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