Everything You Want to Know About the Monkeypox Disease

India was already grappling with the third pandemic wave, and now the country has recorded its first case of the monkeypox disease. It is a rare smallpox-like disease but shows milder effects and is rarely fatal. Before 2022, cases of monkeypox were reported only in a few African countries.

Though the disease is not yet considered to be a medical emergency in the country, people need to have an idea about this new outbreak. This blog provides crucial details regarding this disease. Read on.

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What Is the Monkeypox Disease?

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by monkeypox virus transmission from animals to humans. The symptoms displayed by patients are similar to smallpox. However, they are clinically milder. The pathogen causing this disease belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus in the family of Poxviridae viruses.

Monkeypox is most prevalent in Central and Western Africa. Primarily, it is spread when humans come in contact with infected rodents. However, researchers have observed that this virus can even spread if a person has skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. The main animal reservoir of this disease has not been confirmed yet.

One can categorise the monkeypox virus into two types—the virus that originated in West Africa and the virus that originated in Central Africa. One needs to note that the West African variant of the virus has resulted in the outbreak in 2022.

How Did Monkeypox Disease Start?

Medical experts discovered the monkeypox disease in 1958. Scientists observed two colonies of monkeys as a part of research and witnessed an outbreak of a pox-like disease.

It was in 1970 that Medical researchers detected monkeypox in humans for the first time. The patient was a small boy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, reported cases have been mostly from Central and West African countries, including Nigeria, Gabon, Liberia, South Sudan, and Sierra Leone.

The first monkeypox case outside Africa was reported in the United States in 2003. Doctors discovered that the infected person had come in contact with infected pet prairie dogs. These dogs had come in contact with infected rats and dormice that were imported from Ghana. In the outbreak of 2003 in the USA, nearly 70 people were infected with monkeypox.

In 2018, some people travelling from Nigeria to Israel contracted this disease. The virus was reported in travellers who had travelled to the United Kingdom from African countries in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2020. People who visited Singapore from African countries like Nigeria in May 2019 reported monkeypox.

In July and November 2021, the USA recorded many patients with monkeypox virus. Doctors detected monkeypox in many residents of non-endemic countries in May 2022.

Researchers are studying to better understand the epidemiology, transmission patterns, and sources of monkeypox infection.

How Serious Is the Monkeypox Disease?

According to reports, 99% of people who have suffered from this disease have survived. Thus, the Western African variant of the monkeypox virus is not deadly. Usually, its symptoms last for around 2 to 4 weeks, though in some cases, its effects can be severe.

Recently, the fatality ratio of this disease has ranged from 3% to 6%. It may prove to be fatal if children below 8 years, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with a weakened immune system, and those with a history of eczema catch this virus.

Additionally, symptoms of the West African type of monkeypox are very painful. The disease might lead to other health complications like encephalitis, eye infection, and pneumonia. Other complications that can occur in patients suffering from the monkeypox disease include sepsis, secondary infections, encephalitis and corneal diseases.

How Is Monkeypox Diagnosed?

If an individual feels unwell and approaches healthcare practitioners, the latter might suspect it to be a case of chicken pox or measles. This is because the symptoms are very similar. However, monkeypox has a distinguishing feature–swollen lymph nodes.

The doctor will first collect tissue samples from open lesions of the patient and send it to the designated laboratory for PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing. This test is also referred to as genetic fingerprinting. Medical practitioners also collect patient’s blood samples to assess the presence of monkeypox virus and its antibodies.

Where was the Monkeypox Case First Reported in India?

After a global outbreak of monkeypox in over 50 countries, India reported the first monkeypox case on 14th July 2022. The patient was a 35-year-old man who arrived in Kerala from the United Arab Emirates. The man is a native of Kollam in Kerala.

He complained of fever and other ailments and consulted doctors at a private hospital in Kerala. He informed the hospital that his close aide had contracted monkeypox in the UAE. The authorities referred him to Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital (MCH).

The hospital authorities sent the patient's samples to the National Institute of Virology in Pune. The reports confirmed the presence of monkeypox infection. Medical authorities kept people who came in close contact with him in isolation under hospital care. Doctors and nurses will closely monitor them.

Since the first case, NIV Pune has confirmed two more cases of monkeypox afflictions, taking the tally of reported cases to 3.

Where Else Is Monkeypox Disease Found?

Monkeypox was generally prevalent in African countries. From 1970 to early 2022, this disease was found in over 11 countries in Western and Central Africa. However, since May 2022, patients in the USA, UK and other countries in Europe, Asia, and Australia have reported this disease.

As travellers move more freely from one region of the world to another, regional and localised viruses and diseases can spread more easily in different parts of the world. By the end of July 2022, there have been over 15,400 reports of this disease from over 71 countries.

Who Does Monkeypox Affect?

The monkeypox disease can affect anyone and everyone. In Africa, researchers have observed that reported cases were of boys below the age of 15 years. Outside the African continent, medical researchers saw this disease occurring mostly in men with homosexual orientation.

Considering the fact that MSM (men who have sex with men) community is a tightly knit network, monkeypox virus spreads fast among them. In fact, according to experts. all viruses find a niche among densely connected communities because in such networks, viruses do not hit any dead end.

One must note that, there have been many cases when people who do not fall in the above categories have contracted monkeypox. Medical researchers are still studying the various factors and ways of mutation and transmission of this virus.

How Long Does Monkeypox Last?

Generally, monkeypox lasts from 2 to 4 weeks. After exposure to the virus, an individual might take some time to display symptoms.

What Are Signs and Symptoms of Monkeypox?

Early symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, chills, and swollen lymph nodes.

After some days, flat red bump rashes will develop. These bumps, which can be extremely painful, gradually turn into blisters filled with pus. These blisters will eventually form into crusts and fall off. Patients can also develop sores in their mouth, anus, or vagina.

One must note that not every patient develops these symptoms. In fact, in 2022, many patients reported less fever, fewer lesions, and no swollen lymph nodes.

How Can One Prevent Monkeypox Disease?

People can prevent the rise in monkeypox cases by adopting the following measures:

Individuals must avoid contact with infected animals or people who have monkeypox.
They should not come in contact with personal items, including bedding and sheets used by infected people.
Experts have advocated the practice of safe sex, condoms, and dental dams.
People should also wear a mask when they are in a crowd.
If someone needs to care for infected people, he or she must wear personal protective equipment (PPE).
One needs to disinfect and clean surfaces that people touch frequently.
Finally, frequently washing hands with soap and water is a good practice.

This blog has listed all the crucial details about the monkeypox disease. Though it was initially confined to Africa, monkeypox quickly spread to other parts of the world, with international travel becoming common. As of 2022, many countries across the world reported outbreaks of the disease.

India reported the first few monkeypox cases in July 2022. Additionally, cases have been rising worldwide. Therefore, it is important for people to stay educated about this new outbreak and stay safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

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How should a person infected with monkeypox take care of himself?

First and foremost, the infected person should isolate himself or herself. Then, they need to diligently have the prescribed medicines. Oatmeal baths are a good option for relieving the dry and itchy feeling that comes with the rashes. Using gauze or bandages to cover lesions is a good idea.

It is also a good idea to avoid close contact with pets. Lastly, one must rest well, drink liquids, and wear a mask.

Are there any treatments for monkeypox?

Medical practitioners have approved the usage of an antiviral drug named Tecovirimat (TPOXX or ST-246) for treating monkeypox. This medication is available in an oral capsule and injection form. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recently approved this drug for monkeypox in 2022. However, it is not widely available, and its efficacy is not proven conclusively.