MONKEYPOX! ANOTHER CORONAVIRUS?
You have seen Monkeypox on your WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook feed, and you’re stuck with some questions in your head: are we going for another lockdown? Should I run from monkey now? Did they just engineer another disease?
With Nigeria recording, 8 deaths from Monkeypox in 5years with about 558 people infected, Recently, 15 people have been confirmed infected this year with Lagos and Adamawa states taking the leads.
Let’s go on this short journey to answer your questions
WHAT IS MONKEYPOX?
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by a virus that belongs to the Orthoppxvirus genus called Monkeypox virus. Also in this genus us the popular smallpox virus and cowpox virus.
IS IT FROM MONKEYS?
Yes, the virus was first discovered in monkeys kept for research in 1958. However, the first human case was discovered in Congo, 1970.
IS IT TRANSMISSIBLE?
Yes like coronavirus, it can be transmitted from an infected person to others, Transmission is through broken skin, respiratory tract (respiratory droplets), the eyes, nose or mouth, and direct contact with bodily fluid.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS?
The symptoms are very similar to those of Smallpox although milder.
Monkeypox begins with
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Backache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Exhaustion
Within 3 days
- The patients begin to develop a rash that spreads throughout the body
HOW LONG DOES IT PERSIST?
It cans persist and last for about 4 weeks
CAN IT KILL?
It has been studied that Monkeypox kills 1 out of every 10 people infected.
HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF?
Currently, there’s no proven safe treatment for monkeypox virus infection.
Although for controlling an outbreak, smallpox vaccines are given to those infected or exposed
- Wash your hands regularly and sanitize
- If you or any close relative shows signs or symptoms of Smallpox kindly isolate and report to the nearest health center.
- Avoid contact with persons showing rashes.
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