Photo: REUTERS
The World Health Organization announced that over 80 cases of Monkeypox had been confirmed in a total of 11 countries.
Experts and scientists expect that more cases may be reported in the next few days. According to WHO, these recent outbreaks are ‘unusual’ because they’re from countries where the virus isn’t endemic.
In a statement, the agency said, “WHO is working with the affected countries and others to expand disease surveillance to find and support people who may be affected and to provide guidance on how to manage the disease.”
The virus is endemic in Central and West African rainforests, where it can be transmitted to humans through close contact with infected animals. In recent developments across Europe, many nations have confirmed several cases -the largest outbreak of Monkeypox ever seen by this region. One US citizen contracted 5₱3 virus and two in Canada.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that Monkeypox is a disease from a virus coming from the same family as smallpox. At the same time, the effects are not severe, 1 out of 10 people die from the disease, according to data from Africa.
Monkeypox is passed when one comes in close contact with infected people or animals. The virus enters the body through:
- respiratory tract
- eyes
- nose
- mouth
- broken skins
Symptoms include:
- fever
- headache
- muscle aches
- chills
- swollen lymph nodes
- exhaustion
After one to three days, infected individuals may feel the following:
- high fever
- rashes starting from the face
The CDC said that high-risk individuals include:
- health care workers
- household members
- sexual partners
“As monkeypox spreads through close contact, the response should focus on the people affected and their close contacts,” WHO said in a statement.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported a case of Monkeypox in Massachusetts. The patient traveled to Canada using a private car. In light of the event, now New York City has begun protocols to counter this new wave as well — amidst COVID-19 cases that continue across America.
The United States is not new to an outbreak of the virus. In 2003, it spread in the US through close contact with prairie dogs and led 70 people to be infected.
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