Updates on Monkey Pox
Hello Everyone! I am Dr Rena McDermott and Welcome to my Blog. I will be posting a variety of health information on this blog as well as other social media accounts including my you tube channel. You can find the video for this post on my you tube channel at https://youtu.be/TnNxfN_jBtk
I will be answering the following questions today:
What is monkey pox?
When do monkey pox symptoms appear?
Signs and symptoms of monkey pox ?
How long do monkeypox symptoms last?
How can you protect yourself from this virus?
Monkey pox is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. The virus was named monkeypox but the source of disease still remains unknown. Rodents and non-human primates (like monkeys) are thought be be carriers of this virus. This virus is part of the family of viruses (called variola virus), the virus that causes smallpox. Although the symptoms of monkeypox are similar to smallpox, the symptoms are much milder and rarely fatal. Thank God for that!
Monkeypox symptoms usually start within 3 weeks of exposure to the virus. Some people might get flu-like symptoms with the appearance of the rash 1-4 days later. Monkeypox can be spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has healed and all scabs have fallen oUpdates-on-Monkey-Pox.
How long should you expect the illness to last? This illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.
Symptoms of monkeypox can include:
- Chills
- Fever
- Muscle aches and backache
- Headache
- Respiratory symptoms (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)
- Sometimes, people have flu-like symptoms before the rash.
- Some people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms.
- Others only experience a rash.
- Some people might get all or a few symptoms.
People with monkeypox can get a rash on any part of the body. The rash might look like blisters or pimples, and it can be itchy and painful. The rash can be seen on or near the genitals or other areas of the body like the chest, hands, feet, face, or the mouth. The rash will go through several stages, including a stage where the lesions will turn into scabs, before healing.
How is Monkey pox spread?
Monkey pox can spread to anyone through close contact, often form skin-to-skin contact including: direct contact with monkey pox rash, scabs, or body fluids from an infected person. Also, contact with respiratory secretions and with surfaces (such as object and fabrics e.g. clothing, bedding, or towels) that have been used by someone with monkeypox. People can also be infected during intimate contact of any kind, prolonged face-to-face contact.
It is important to keep in mind that although the monkeypox outbrak has been linked primarily to intimate contact among men who have sex with men, it can also be transmitted in other ways. For example, there was recent case reported of a traveler who returned to the US from the United kingdom who did not report recent sexual contact. There was also a suspected case of human-to-dog monkeypox transmission.
Monkey pox can also be transmitted by preparing or eating meat, or using products form an infected animal. It is also possible to get monkey pox from being scratched or bitten by an infected animal.
It can also be transmitted through the placenta in pregnancy.
There are still a lot of unknowns about the monkey pox virus. There is ongoing research to see if the virus can be spread when someone has no symptoms and when a person with symptoms might be more likely to spread the virus through respiratory secretions. They is also ongoing research looking at whether or not this virus can be spread through semen, vaginal fluids, urine and feces. I suspect that can be sexually transmitted but the scientific evidence will give us reliable data to support my theory hopefully soon.
How can you protect yourself from this virus?
- Wash your hands as often as possible with soap and water. If you are unable to wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash
- Avoid contact with materials or objects that a person with monkeypox has used.
If you are concerned that you might have been exposed to monkeypox or that you have symptoms that are concerning for monkey pox and you don’t have a health care provider or health insurance, please go to the nearest public health clinic.
Please find the link here for the video on Monkeypox: https://youtu.be/TnNxfN_jBtk
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