Monkeypox: Preventative Measures, Symptoms and Diagnosis

In the middle of 2022, an outbreak of monkeypox gripped the world in fear. This is a rare zoonotic disease with pox-like symptoms caused by the monkeypox virus. While the disease usually remains confined to Africa, an increase in international travel, import of animals, and close contact with infected people and animals have spread this disease to many countries.

It is important to learn about monkeypox and take necessary precautions to avoid being affected by this pandemic. This blog provides crucial details on how to prevent monkeypox and related information. Read on.

Monkeypox virus belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus of the family Poxviridae. Medical researchers discovered monkeypox in 1958 when they observed the outbreak of a pox-like disease in a group of monkeys that were kept for research purposes. They detected the disease in humans for the first time in 1970. The patient was a small boy in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa.

In the beginning, monkeypox disease occurred in people who lived near the tropical rainforests in central and western Africa. However, an increase in travel in a globalised world has also facilitated the spread of regional and localised viruses like the monkeypox virus.

Since 1970, the USA (United States of Africa), UK (United Kingdom), and countries of Europe and Asia have reported small cases of the monkeypox disease. However, in 2022, the world witnessed a massive outbreak of monkeypox disease like never before.

After exposure to the monkeypox virus, an individual will start displaying symptoms after days or weeks. Medical experts have divided this disease into phases—invasion period and skin eruption. Given below are the details of these two phases and the symptoms that appear:

A. Invasion Period

The incubation period of this virus ranges between 5 to 21 days, after which symptoms appear. Next is the invasion period, which lasts for 0-5 days when the initial symptoms appear. These symptoms are:

• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Back pain
• Chills
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fatigue
• Intense headaches
• Lack of energy

B. Skin Eruption

After the onset of the initial symptoms, the patient will experience skin rashes throughout his/her body, usually within 1-5 days. First, these rashes will erupt in the form of flat red spots. Then, these spots will turn into blisters and fill with pus. Gradually, the blisters will dry up and fall off.

First and foremost, an individual who feels unwell and develops rashes must not hesitate to consult a doctor. There is every chance that he has been exposed to the monkeypox virus. Here, one must note that the distinguishing features of monkeypox are the development of swollen lymph nodes.

The healthcare practitioner will collect tissue samples from an open lesion and send them to a laboratory for confirmation. He or she will also collect blood samples to further confirm the presence of the monkeypox virus in one’s body. The blood test would also show the presence or absence of antibodies in the person’s immune system.

The monkeypox disease is self-limiting, and its effects usually go away after 2 to 4 weeks. However, children and people with immune deficiencies may experience more serious symptoms. Such people will want to focus on prevention of monkeypox rather than rely on their own bodies. Currently, there is no medicine confirmed to treat this disease.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged people to take the following preventative measures:

1. One must avoid coming in contact with the things used by monkeypox patients, like bedding and clothing.
2. People must avoid skin-to-skin and prolonged contact with infected patients.
3. Individuals need to avoid contact with infected animals, especially rodents.
4. Washing hands thoroughly and repeatedly with soap and water is a good hygienic measure.
5. It is better to cough and sneeze into the crook of the arm instead of in the open air.
6. People should always use condoms and a dental dam during sexual acts.
7. Wearing a mask in a crowd is good practice.
8. Healthcare providers must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while caring for monkeypox patients.
9. Regular cleaning and disinfecting of places frequented by infected people, patients and medical practitioners go a long way in preventing the spread of this disease.

The following are some important tips that  international travellers can follow to stay safe from monkeypox infection:

• Always wear a mask.
• Do not touch the bedding or clothes of unknown or sick people.
• Make sure you do not touch utensils used by others.
• Avoid kissing, hugging and touching others.
• Ensure that you do not touch live or dead animals.
• Do not eat food items prepared from wild animals.
• If you need to come in contact with animals for work purposes, wear appropriate protective gear.
• Take additional precautions and seek official guidance if you need to work with sick animals.
• Always keep your hands clean using soap or sanitiser.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains a minimum of 60% alcohol.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth frequently.
• Eat nutritious food and exercise regularly to improve your immunity level.

The Government of India has issued the following guidelines for prevention of monkeypox  and containment:

• The Central Government has advised international travellers to avoid contact with sick people.
• Travellers are advised to not consume or prepare meat from wild animals. Additionally, they have cautioned against the usage of products made from wild animals of Africa, including lotions, creams and powders.
• The government has asked people to avoid contact with rodents and primates like apes and monkeys.
• To prevent monkeypox affliction, people have been told to avoid contact with things contaminated by sick people, including bedding, clothing and healthcare materials.
• The Government of India has sent a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Kerala after the state recorded the first monkeypox case in the country. Central authorities have asked this team to cooperate and work closely with the Kerala Health Department to prevent the spread of the monkeypox virus.
• Furthermore, people who live near monkeypox patients or feel that they have been exposed to the virus have been advised to seek medical help.
• ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) has trained 15 virus research and diagnostic laboratories across India to carry out the diagnostic tests. These laboratories are strategically located and geographically well-distributed.

This blog has enumerated important details regarding how to prevent monkeypox. This disease is quickly becoming a medical emergency in many parts of the world, so people need to start taking precautions. One can prevent monkeypox by avoiding contact with infected people or things used by them. Following the preventative measures mentioned above can go a long way in containing this disease.