About Monkeypox: prevention and treatment

If you had never heard about monkeypox until now, then you’re not alone. This rare viral disease is similar to (but much milder than) the dreaded smallpox, which was declared to be eradicated world-wide by the WHO in 1980. Until this recent outbreak in Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states, the last time that cases of monkeypox were reported in Nigeria was in the 1970s.

History of monkeypox elsewhere

1958: Laboratory in Denmark identifies the virus in laboratory monkeys
1970: First identified human victim, a 9 year old boy in present day Congo.
1996-7: Major outbreak in Congo
2003: First reported cases outside Africa occurred in the USA (37 confirmed cases)
2005-2016: Outbreaks and isolated cases in Sudan, Congo, Sirrea loane, Central African Republic etc.

How is monkeypox spread?

• Moneypox can be transmitted from direct contact with the bodily fluids, skin wounds or blood of infected animals (certain species of squirrels, mice, rates and even primates). It may also be possible to get it from eating the undercooked meat of such infected animals.
• Apart from animals, monkeypox can be spread through close contact with infected persons (from their infected droplets), as well as contact with other body secretions and blood.
• Indirect contact occurs when a person handles a material that has been contaminated with the body secretions of an infected animal or human.

How does monkeypox show up?

It takes between 5-21 days to develop symptoms (incubation period) and the whole illness usually lasts two to four weeks.

First phase of monkey pox

In the first 5 days, there may be fever, a bad headache, back pain, muscle pain and serious body weakness. The most important sign at this stage is swollen and painful lymph nodes, which occur before the rash starts.

Second phase of monkeypox

This is the phase when multiple swellings (can be up to thousands) erupt on the body. Virtually all patients get it on the face, while the majority also get these swelling on their soles/palms and inside the mouth. Over the next 10 days, these swellings turn into blister and start to have the yellowish crust that resembles chickenpox.

What else looks monkeypox?

Before you panic, you need to be aware that chickenpox, measles, syphilis, scabies and drug-allergies are more common reasons for skin rashes than monkeypox.

How is monkeypox diagnosed?

The aforementioned symptoms, particularly the inflamed lymph nodes that precede the rash, are a give-away for any alert health wokrker. For confirmation, however, samples need to be sent to laboratories which can test for monkeypox.

Complications

Monkeypox is often more serious in children and those with a lowered immunity. Death in these groups occurs in up to 10% of the cases. Therefore, most who people get the disease survive. However, they may be left with scarring.

Treatment

There is no known specific treatment for monkeypox. However, supportive care like intravenous fluids, painkillers and fever-reducers etc.must be instituted in patients  Smallpox vaccinations can greatly help, but these are no longer readily available

Prevention

No vaccination is available at the moment for monkeypox, so other means of prevention are very important.

1. Do not handle sick animals or take care of infected people without using gloves, face-masks and other protective measures.
2. Cook ‘bushmeat’ thoroughly.
3. Wash hands regularly and in the right way.
4. Get correct information and spread same (sharing this article is a great way to start).