Recently there have been reports of an atypical outbreak of Monkeypox in various parts of the world where the disease is not reported earlier.
Here are a few frequently asked questions on Monkeypox:
1. What is Monkeypox, and how does it spread?
Monkeypox is a viral infection which is rare and usually found in Central and West Africa forested areas.
Monkeypox does not spread easily among people; it requires very close physical contact to allow the virus to enter the body.
2. What are the signs and symptoms, and how long do they last?
Symptoms usually start to show 6–13 days after contacting an infected, symptomatic person or their belongings. However, it can even take up to 21 days.
The most common symptom includes an evolving rash that develops from vesicles into blisters. The rash may accompany a fever, muscle aches, chills, exhaustion, headaches, a sore throat, or swollen, painful lymph nodes.
3. How can Monkeypox be treated?
The disease is usually self-limiting, meaning symptoms typically go away without needing treatment within 2–3 weeks. However, some people require antibiotics and pain killers to treat secondary infections and local pain.
A new vaccine is already approved for the prevention of Monkeypox, and the smallpox vaccine also demonstrated good protection against the disease. However, these vaccines are not widely available across all parts of the world.
4. Can Monkeypox be a new pandemic like COVID-19?
No. Unlike COVID-19, Monkeypox requires close personal contact with an infected person or their belongings, so it is not as easily spread.
Personal contact includes contact with body fluids or sores on the body of an infected person or with direct contact with materials that have touched body fluids or sores like clothing or bed linen.
Respiratory transmission is possible, but we know this likely occurs through large droplets that don’t linger in the air or travel far, which may happen when people have close face-to-face contact.
5. What should people do if they suspect they might have Monkeypox?
People must report symptoms and take precautions to stop possible transmission to others, particularly those at high risk of developing severe disease.
Consult your doctor or healthcare provider immediately if you notice an unusual lesion or rash.
Do not touch the lesions or rash as it might spread the disease.
Wash the bedding or belongings of an infected person separately.
Wash and sanitize your hands regularly.
Avoid any physical contact, including sexual contact with the infected or suspected person.
Anyone with suspected or confirmed monkeypox symptoms should isolate until the symptoms have resolved.
You are extremely unlikely to have Monkeypox if you have not been in close contact with someone who has Monkeypox or has monkeypox symptoms; or if you have not recently travelled to West or Central Africa.
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