The monkey pox it is not a new disease in the world, unlike covid-19; however, it has become a matter of concern, since in recent weeks the cases have increased significantly in dozens of countries and even recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) described it as an international emergency.
If you still do not know it well or want to have more information about the disease, we will tell you everything you need to know, according to data from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
What is monkeypox and how is it spread?
Like covid-19 and other emerging diseases, monkeypox is a zoonosis, which means that it passed from animals to humans and its first case was recorded in 1970 in Africa, specifically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For this reason, it was believed to be an endemic disease in Africa, related to smallpox that affected Mexico after the Conquest and is currently eradicated in our country.
It is caused by the monkeypox virus, which is spread from one person to another by close contact with body fluids such as saliva, blood, sweat, tears, urine, semen, vaginal secretions, blister-like lesions, and fomites (inert objects contaminated with viral particles from infected people, such as sheets, clothing, doorknobs, non-porous surfaces).
Rocío Tirado Mendoza, an academic from the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology of the Faculty of Medicine (FM), clarified that Although there have been a higher number of cases of monkeypox among the homosexual and bisexual population, children, youth, adults, the elderly of any gender and sexual orientation are susceptible to disease.
Even pregnant women can become infected and transmit the virus to their child.
How is it detected?
Unlike SARS-CoV-2, which causes the covid-19which is an RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus, with a high mutation rate, the monkeypox virus is a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) virus, with a much lower mutation rate.
But according to the specialist, to distinguish it from its cousin, smallpox, it is also necessary to apply a PCR test (polymerase chain reaction).
… and what are the symptoms?
The symptoms of monkeypox are:
- Fever.
- Intense headache.
- Low back pain.
- Muscle pains.
- Rashes.
- Swelling of the lymph nodes.
Although the lethality of this disease is low, immunosuppressed patients, that is, with the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV; and children are at higher risk of complications and presenting a serious clinical picture.
How long does the disease last?
The incubation period (interval between infection and onset of symptoms) for monkeypox is two to four days in most cases.
The disease itself can last two to four weeks, but even so, it is advised that people diagnosed use condoms during sexual intercourse for up to 12 weeks after recovery.
“Monkeypox is an exanthematic or eruptive disease, very similar to herpes. The lesions usually appear more on the face, hands and feet, evolve into scabs and fall off,” said the specialist.
Monkeypox vaccine
For human smallpox there was an efficient vaccine, which also helps for monkey pox, but it has not been produced in Mexico since 1980.
Currently, the United States has authorized two vaccines against monkeypox: one with attenuated simian virus (only tested in animals) and another with Vaccinia virus, from the same family of smallpox viruses (tested in both animals and humans). , as both produce an efficient immune response.
While in Spain, the European country with the most cases of monkeypox, the aim is to first vaccinate those high-risk people who suspect they have recently been in contact with the virus or who have presented any symptoms within 14 days that could relate to this disease; as well as doctors and laboratory workers who do the PCR test to diagnose it.
In Mexico, where 60 cases have been registered in at least 11 states, mainly in Mexico City and Jalisco, vaccination has not been considered.
However, to date, all patients, including those requiring hospitalization for severe immunosuppression, have recovered.
In which countries are there cases of monkeypox?
According to data from the World Health Organization, as of July 29, there are 17,836 confirmed cases in 74 countries, in addition to five deaths, the latter in Africa and associated with malnutrition problems.
The most affected are: Spain (with 3,125 cases), the United States (2,890), Germany (2,268), the United Kingdom (2,208) and France (1,567 cases).
Mexico appears in 20th place internationally, with 52 infected people.
FLC
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