Just as the Covid-19 pandemic is ending, we are going back to the normal days that we miss so much, new epidemic news comes from somewhere in the world. Some stay on the agenda for a few days and then disappear, but others continue to spread in an alarming way. One of the diseases that has been worrying the world lately is the monkeypox virus. Although none of us are ready to hear about a new virus, it seems that this disease, which is currently seen in eleven countries, will remain on our agenda for a while. But what is this monkeypox virus and where did it come from?
First of all, let's start with some news that will sprinkle a little water on us. Monkeypox is not actually a new virus and has been known to exist for a long time. This disease was first discovered in the 1950s. Although it is claimed to be a disease transmitted from rodents, not monkeys, monkeypox virus was first observed in a monkey colony. That's why it got this name. The virus, which was observed only in animals for a while, unfortunately later infected humans as well. In 1970, the first case of monkeypox was observed in a human in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Later, this disease continued to be seen, albeit to a lesser extent, especially in African countries. Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria,
How Is Monkeypox Virus Transmitted?
Monkeypox virus can be transmitted not only from monkeys, but also from wild animals such as mice, squirrels and rats. In fact, the animals that spread this disease the most are thought to be rodents. Well, assuming that we have no contact with these animals in any way, you may be thinking, how can I catch the monkeypox virus? In fact, the virus is transmitted if you are bitten by an infected animal or if you touch its blood, bodily fluids, spots, blisters or crusts. You can also get this virus from an infected animal that is eaten in a poorly cooked state. The reason why this disease has caused alarm lately is that it can now be transmitted from person to person.
Monkeypox virus can be transmitted from one person to another who has been in close contact with an infected animal. Although it has now become impossible to detect from whom the virus spread, at least we know how it was transmitted. Having close skin-to-skin contact with an infected person carries the greatest risk of spreading the disease. In addition, body fluids, air droplets and touching objects that an infected person has come into contact with also contribute to the spread of the disease. Most of the recently detected cases are thought to be transmitted after close contact, especially through sexual intercourse.
People infected by the monkeypox virus cannot transmit the disease to another person while they are in the incubation period. But when symptoms begin to appear in the body, the disease becomes contagious. In addition, since the first symptoms are difficult to distinguish, the probability of the spread of the disease increases a little more. After the rash on the body of the infected person crusts and the crusts fall off, the contagiousness of the disease passes. On average, this process can take a little more than a month.
What Are the Symptoms of Monkeypox Virus?
The first symptoms that occur in people who have been infected with the monkeypox virus are often indistinguishable. In the first stages, the virus manifests itself with ordinary symptoms such as fever, weakness and sweating. In rare cases, symptoms such as nausea and cough are also reported. In the stage where we can understand what the virus is, there are rashes that usually appear on the face and chest area a few days after the fever. Over time, these rashes can spread all over the body, even inside the mouth. As time passes, the shape of the rash may change and crusting may be observed. In most cases, the disease and rashes heal within 15 to 20 days. In addition, unlike smallpox, most people infected with the monkeypox virus do not leave any traces of these rashes and disappear over time.
Is Monkeypox Virus Deadly?
As millions of people lost their lives all over the world during the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the first questions that comes to mind is whether the monkeypox virus is dangerous and deadly. It is quite normal for this virus to create an atmosphere of panic, since it has not been seen much in Europe before. In addition, the World Health Organization's announcement that it would closely monitor the virus strengthened people's fears a little more. However, according to the information obtained, the monkeypox virus caused a disease that had a very limited spread and the mortality rate was between 3% and 6%. However, the increasing number of cases and the fact that people are in closer contact with each other with the summer season raises concerns about the rate of spread of the virus.
Authorities, who want to reduce this wave of anxiety spreading all over the world, underline that the symptoms seen in people who catch this virus usually go away on their own and do not harm many people. Just like with Covid-19, this disease poses a greater danger to people with weakened immune systems. In the most distressing cases, the virus can sometimes cause pneumonia, skin infection and blindness. On the other hand, young people are thought to be a risk group for this disease. It is suggested that the elderly who have had the smallpox vaccine before are more likely to be immune to this disease.
Finally, experts recommend that people who suspect they have the monkeypox virus self-isolate, cover their rash, and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
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