In 1958, a never-before-heard strange disease broke out in colonies of monkeys kept for research. The disease was called monkey pox, after the monkeys. The disease showed symptoms similar to those of smallpox.
Coincidentally, monkeypox was first diagnosed in a human being in DRC Congo, at a time when the country was struggling with smallpox. That was in 1978. The Democratic Republic of Congo’s efforts to control and eradicate smallpox may have survived one case of monkeypox.
However, cases of monkey pox have since been reported in humans in other Central and West African countries. What has shocked the world in 2022 is the reporting of monkey pox cases in Western and European countries, which had never been reported before. The cases have dampened the mood for gambling activities such as online roulette.
Monkeypox virus research
The World Health Organization has called for calm among the speculation and misinformation about the number of reported cases. However, they confirmed that 50 cases had been reported and warned that more cases are likely to be reported soon.
The cases of monkey pox occur in Europe, the US, Canada and Australia. Surprisingly, the disease originated in Central and West Africa. It remains a mystery how it was able to spread to European and Western countries. Monkeypox is a mild viral infection; according to the UK’s National Health Service, most people who contract the disease recover within a few weeks.
Not to avert all doom, a bit of comforting news is that the virus doesn’t spread easily between people. A widespread monkeypox pandemic is therefore minimal and unlikely. To date, no vaccine has been developed against monkey pox. However, the smallpox vaccine is used as a substitute, with an efficacy of 85%.
The World Health Organization is working with affected countries to control reported cases and stop the spread of the disease. The organization has advised not to stigmatize the victims. Stigmatization can lead to some those affected not seeking the required care. Such a scenario will lead to the unsuspected spread of the disease.
In addition, there are concerns that the upcoming festivals and summer parties could accelerate the transfer. Only one of the confirmed cases had a history of travel to one of the regions where the disease is endemic.
On May 7, 2022, shocking news came out about the first case in the United Kingdom. The victim had recently come from Nigeria. He is believed to have contracted the disease in a West African country. 20 cases have been confirmed in the UK so far.
The UK is currently offering a smallpox vaccine to those highly exposed to monkeypox. Spain has reportedly purchased large quantities of vaccines to prepare for an imminent threat. The first case in Australia was reported by a man who had recently traveled from the UK.
How common is monkey pox?
Monkeypox is a type of virus that belongs to the same family as smallpox. Compared to smallpox, monkeypox is less serious and less likely to spread the infection. The disease was previously reported only near the tropical rainforests of Central and West Africa. There are two strains of monkeypox, each unique to each of the two African regions.
In one unique case in the UK, a health professional contracted a patient’s illness. The most recent cases have no relevant travel history. This means that they contracted the disease locally. The Ministry of Health has advised anyone showing the symptoms to seek medical attention.
The symptoms of monkey pox
● fever
● headache
● Back pain
● Sore muscles
● Swelling
An infected person develops a painful facial rash that spreads to other parts of the body, especially the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
How does one get monkey pox?
● Close contact with an infected person
● Through damaged skin, the respiratory tract, eyes, nose or mouth
● Direct contact during intercourse
● Contact with infected animals such as monkeys, rats and squirrels
● Contact with contaminated objects such as bedding and clothing
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