How dangerous is monkeypox? 10
According to records from the World Health Organization (WHO), as of May 22, there were 92 monkeypox cases and 28 suspected cases in 12 countries.
Health officials in many countries do not know the cause of the sudden spread of the virus.
Monkeypox is a virus that circulates frequently in small mammals in Africa, such as rats and monkeys.
How dangerous is the virus?
During a briefing on May 20, a US public health official said the risk of the disease to the public is quite low at the present time.
Monkeypox is related to smallpox, but milder.
US officials say most patients fully recover within two to four weeks.
Experts believe that the current smallpox outbreak is spread through close, intimate contact with someone who already has the rash.
`Covid-19 is mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract and is highly infectious. Monkeypox is not like that,` said Dr. Martin Hirsch, Massachusetts General Hospital.
David Heymann, WHO commissioner, said that the virus is being spread mainly through sex.
The palm of a person with monkeypox.
What are experts concerned about?
According to the WHO, recent outbreaks are relatively rare, because monkeypox is spreading in a country where the virus did not circulate regularly before.
Most patients live in England, Spain and Portugal.
WHO is concerned that the number of cases will increase when people gather and participate in festivals and parties during the upcoming summer vacation.
Symptoms of monkeypox
WHO says the incubation period for monkeypox is usually 5 to 21 days.
The difference between monkeypox and other diseases is the lymphadenopathy.
The second stage is a skin rash, which usually manifests within one to three days of the patient’s fever.
Gay and bisexual men are advised by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to be careful, because 4 recent cases were all identified as members of this community.
`We strongly recommend that gay and bisexual men pay attention to skin rashes or any unusual lesions and immediately contact a sexual health facility,` Dr. Susan
Monkeypox was not previously included in the group of sexually transmitted diseases.
