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Smallpox is a disease that plagued the entire world in the last century, having been eradicated in the 80s after a worldwide vaccination campaign. Recently, a similar disease has alerted world health authorities: monkey pox. A few days ago we saw outbreaks in Europe and isolated cases in America. Today we are going to understand a little more about this disease, how to prevent it and the chances of it ending up becoming a pandemic – as happened with COVID-19. 376i22
What is monkeypox? t4u3x
Monkeypox can also be recognized by other names, such as monkeypox — because the disease is caused by monkeypox virus — or in its plural, monkey pox. This disease also belongs to the same family as (human) smallpox, caused by the virus Orthopoxvirus variolae.
After smallpox was eradicated worldwide in 1980, monkeypox infections have become more of a concern for global public health. Usually its cases are sporadic and reported in specific places, mainly in the west e central from the mainland African. These two regions also present specific infections: the central region usually s more severe and more transmissible cases, with a mortality rate close to 11%, while the western region represents almost 4% of mortality.
How did the disease arise? 6y6k6y
There were no records of monkeypox infections outside Africa until 2003, with some outbreaks identified in recent years. And since May 13 of this year the World Health Organization (WHO) has been receiving information about some cases of the disease in non-endemic countries. As of May 21, 92 laboratory cases have been confirmed and 28 are still under identification. No case of death has been associated with the disease, so far. The cases were identified having as source the variant of the West Africa, unrelated to endemic areas or travel.
Several countries were affected by these outbreaks, with Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom being the most prominent. In addition to them, cases of monkeypox have also been seen in , Australia, Belgium, Canada, the United States, , the Netherlands, Italy and Sweden. Yesterday, May 23, the government of Argentina reported that the country suspects a first case.
The one in West Africa is the mildest, with a mortality between 1% and 10%, and appears to be the one causing the outbreak in Europe. The one from Central Africa, on the other hand, is more virulent and dangerous and can kill about 20% of those infected.
Raúl Rivas González, professor of microbiology at the University of Salamanca in Spain, told BBC News Mundo
Arrival in Brazil 4v2g4m
Despite the outbreaks in Europe and the cases endemic in Africa, the first case of monkeypox in South America was recently in Argentina, a possible indication that a case may appear in Brazil. Experts point out that possibly the disease may appear in the country soon.
Monkeypox could reach Brazil in a short time. It is even possible that an infected person has already entered the country, coming from the places where there are cases. […] That is, if someone infected arrives in Brazil, is not diagnosed and does not isolate in a timely manner, the disease can indeed begin to be transmitted.
Ethel Maciel, professor at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (Ufes)
There is a need to identify suspected cases as quickly as possible, in this way it can be avoided that there are more infected in the world, as well as in the Brazil. Check out another expert opinion in the health area in relation to Brazilian public health:
Even if we have a lower level of exchange of people and travel after the Covid-19 pandemic, the possibility of this virus reaching Brazil is great. The population and health professionals need to be alerted to notify suspected cases. The most striking symptom is vesicular lesions, of the type seen in chickenpox, but much more intense.
Eliseu Waldman, epidemiologist at the School of Public Health at the University of São Paulo (FSP-USP)
WHO says it's "unusual event" 4k592n
The major concern about monkeypox is believed to stem from the recent trauma brought about by COVID-19, which has ravaged the entire world since 2020 and was controlled through a worldwide vaccination campaign. Even so, the World Health Organization reports that, despite the initial scare of monkeypox cases, this is a “highly unusual event“, and that the fact that several countries have some cases indicates that the disease may have been spreading silently for some time.
The entity also says that good hygiene habits, as well as safe sexual behavior will help to minimize the possible spread of the disease around the world. Currently the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States reported that it is in the process of releasing doses of the vaccine Jyneos, against smallpox, to help in cases of monkeypox.
And not just the WHO, but the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) also made a statement on how we should deal with this disease, informing them to maintain and reinforce protective measures at airports and aircraft, thus maintaining a barrier not only against COVID-19, but this and other diseases.
Anvisa acts in accordance with the actions of other agencies and world health bodies and continues to monitor the evolution of the situation in constant with the Ministry of Health. As soon as justified, sanitary measures will be proposed, when applicable, in addition to the existing rules in force in Brazil.
Note from the National Health Surveillance Agency on how we should tackle monkeypox
Symptoms of Monkey Smallpox 2r631n
Monkeypox goes through an incubation period of between 6 to 13 days, with possible variations of 5 to 21 days, and infection can still occur in two phases. The first of them can be called the “invasion phase” — lasting 5 days — with the possible symptoms:
- intense asthenia (weakness)
- fever
- chill
- headache
- Headache
- back pain
- exhaustion
- lymphadenopathy
- backache
- myalgia
Lymph node enlargement is considered a differential among other similar diseases, and may present in places such as the submandibular, sublingual and cervical chairs.
One of the main features of monkeypox is precisely the skin lesions that appear 1 to 3 days after the onset of fever, still in this first phase. Generally, these lesions are concentrated on the face and extremities of the face, soles and palms of the hands, can affect the oral mucosa, genitals and conjunctivae, as well as the cornea — these mentioned parts are in order, the first being the most affected areas and the last , the least affected.
Monkeypox itself is self-limiting, that is, by itself there is a deadline for the beginning of the manifestations and their end, which in this case, occurs between 2 to 4 weeks. Other complications may also be associated, usually secondary bacterial skin infections, gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases, as well as keratitis. Some cases have even reported the presence of encephalitis. Children and pregnant women are the groups that present the most severe cases and tend to be associated with the worst outcomes.
The overall mortality rate of monkeypox varies between 0 to 11%, historically speaking, with the majority of cases in young children. The most recent data point to other numbers, being presented between 3% a 6% of general mortality.
Fortunately, monkeypox is much milder than the human version of smallpox. Based on the data we have seen, most deaths occur in very poor rural areas of Africa and, in general, in many children due to their less developed immune systems.
Raúl Rivas González, professor of microbiology at the University of Salamanca in Spain, told BBC News Mundo
How does contagion or transmission happen? 4j4b6u
Despite the name indicating monkeys as the origin of the disease, the monkeypox virus original has not yet been identified. The most likely origin so far is in wild rodents. Now when we refer to transmission to humans, the means identified are body fluids, direct with blood, skin lesions or mucous membranes of infected animals. Other possible means are the ingestion of undercooked meats or products from animals that are contaminated.
Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct with skin lesions, respiratory secretions, or objects that have recently been infected. Droplet transmissions occur if is prolonged, with greater risk being closer s and health professionals. Research on the transmission of monkeypox shows that this is a less communicable disease than smallpox.
Prevention and treatment: is there a vaccine? 4g655l
Preventing monkeypox can be through basic hygiene habits how to wash hands, avoid with wild animals ou patients, as well as avoiding with people who are possibly showing symptoms of the disease. Having the smallpox vaccine (human) given within four days of suspected infection can add about 85% protection against monkeypox.
Treatment to deal with the disease aims to minimize symptoms and also prevent possible complications from appearing over the period that the infection lasts. ing that, due to the eradication of smallpox in the 80s, the smallpox vaccine can be considered scarce today. With so many cases emerging, there will possibly be campaigns in more affected locations — or even worldwide, again.
What is Monkeypox? (video) 733g2o
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