Where did Monkey Pox come from ?
Monkey pox originated from animals, Monkeypox is an illness with characteristic skin lesions that is spread through close contact.
The virus is closely related to the virus that caused smallpox, which was declared eradicated in 1980.
How do People get infected with Monkey Pox
People get infected with monkeypox from direct contact with blood, bodily fluids of infected animals and person containing the virus and the handling of infected monkeys, rats and squirrels, or with materials that have touched body fluids or sores, such as clothing or linens.
The virus can also cross the placenta from the mother to her fetus, Monkeypox can spread during intimate contact between people, including during sex, as well as activities like kissing, cuddling, or touching parts of the body with monkeypox sores.
Monkeypox virus may spread from animals to people through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, by handling wild game, or through the use of products made from infected animals. The virus may also spread through direct contact with body fluids or sores on an infected person
How is Monkey pox transmitted ?
Transmission occurs primarily through droplets of respiratory particles, through the placenta, open wounds of the infected or objects contaminates by patient’s fluid.
- Monkeypox can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact including:
- Direct contact with monkeypox rash, sores, or scabs
- Contact with objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox
- Through respiratory droplets or oral fluids from a person with monkeypox
- This contact can happen during intimate sexual contact including:
- Oral, anal, and vaginal sex or touching the genitals or anus of a person with monkeypox
- Hugging, massage, kissing, or talking closely
- Touching fabrics and objects during sex that were used by a person with monkeypox, such as bedding, towels and sex toys
How many days before symptoms show ?
Monkey pox takes about 6 to 16 days before it’s symptoms start to show, which takes about 14 to 21 days.
How does the infection spread in the body ?
In the first five days of infection, one will experience fever, intense headaches, back pain, muscle aches and weakness.
After the five days of fever, the skin starts to erupt where various rashes appear, beginning from the face then spreads throughout the body.
People living in or near forested areas may have indirect or low level exposure to infected animals, possibly leading to subclinical infections and it is more susceptible to the younger aged.
How do you get diagnosed ?
Only trained doctors can diagnose you and this will be done through various tests and one must undergo tests for other illnesses like; smallpox, measles, chickenpox, bacterial skin infection, scabies, syphilis and other allergies.
Is there a treatment for Monkey Pox
No specific treatment or vaccines are available for the infection but outbreaks can be controlled. In an absence of specific treatment, the only way to reduce infection is by raising awareness and educating people about measures to take to reduce exposure.
How to avoid Monkey Pox
- Regular handwashing
- Reduce the risk of animal to human transmission.
- Thoroughly cook animal products before eating.
- Public health awareness education.
:
Healthcare workers and those treating and being exposed to patients with the disease should consider being immunized against smallpox.`