{"id":6263,"date":"2022-07-16T15:07:53","date_gmt":"2022-07-16T09:37:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/?p=6263"},"modified":"2024-11-23T11:01:08","modified_gmt":"2024-11-23T05:31:08","slug":"monkeypox-spread","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/monkeypox-spread\/","title":{"rendered":"Monkeypox Spread"},"content":{"rendered":"

Monkeypox Spread:<\/h2>\n
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The 2022 monkeypox<\/a> <\/strong><\/span>outbreak began in May and was a significant global health event. The first confirmed case was traced to an individual with travel links to Nigeria, where the disease is endemic, and was detected on May 6, 2022, in the United Kingdom<\/a><\/span>. This initial case sparked concerns as it began an outbreak spanning several countries and continents.<\/p>\n

From May 18 onward, monkeypox cases were reported in multiple regions, including Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Previously confined to certain areas of Central and West Africa, the disease spread more widely during this outbreak, with cases detected in areas where the virus was not commonly seen.<\/p>\n

By July 15, 12,590 confirmed cases had been recorded, with 12 deaths recorded. The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged the growing concern but, as of June 27, did not declare it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Instead, the WHO categorized the situation as an “evolving health threat,” suggesting the outbreak was being closely monitored but did not yet warrant the highest level of international health alert.<\/p>\n

The spread of the virus sparked increased attention on public health measures, including tracking and managing close contacts. The global community began working together to contain the outbreak, with measures including vaccines and antiviral treatments being discussed and deployed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The outbreak marked the first time the disease has spread widely outside Central and West Africa. Cases have mainly but not exclusively been identified amongst\u00a0men who have sex with men (MSM). Still, health authorities emphasized that anyone can catch the disease, particularly if they have close contact with a symptomatic person. <\/sup>Initial WHO<\/a> <\/span><\/strong>assessments expressed the expectation that the outbreak would be contained and have a low impact on the general population in affected countries.<\/sup><\/sup> A more recent statement acknowledged that undetected transmission had occurred for some time and\u00a0called for urgent action to reduce transmission.<\/sup><\/sup><\/p>\n

Monkeypox is a viral infection that manifests a week or two after exposure to fever and other non-specific symptoms<\/a>. It then produces a\u00a0rash<\/a>\u00a0with blisters that can last for a couple of weeks before usually clearing up.<\/sup> In infections before the current outbreak, 1\u20133% of people with known diseases have died (without treatment). Cases in children are more likely to be severe.<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"Monkeypox\"<\/p>\n

Monkeypox<\/a>\u00a0is an infectious\u00a0viral disease<\/a> that can occur in humans and other animals. <\/sup>Symptoms include\u00a0fever<\/a>,\u00a0swollen lymph nodes<\/a>, and a rash that forms\u00a0blisters<\/a> and then crusts over.\u00a0<\/sup>The time from\u00a0exposure to onset<\/a>\u00a0of symptoms ranges from 5 to 21 days.<\/sup><\/sup> The duration of symptoms is typically 2 to 4 weeks.\u00a0<\/sup>There may be mild symptoms, but they may occur without known symptoms.<\/sup><\/sup>\u00a0The classic presentation of fever and\u00a0muscle pains<\/a>, followed by\u00a0swollen glands<\/a>\u00a0with lesions at the same stage, is not expected in all outbreaks.<\/sup><\/sup> Cases may be severe, especially in children, pregnant women, or people with suppressed immune systems.<\/sup><\/p>\n

There is no known cure. <\/sup>A study in 1988 found that the\u00a0smallpox vaccine<\/a> was around 85% protective in preventing infection in close contact and lessening the severity of the disease.<\/sup>\u00a0A newer\u00a0smallpox and monkeypox vaccine<\/a>\u00a0based on\u00a0modified vaccinia Ankara<\/a> has been approved but has limited availability.<\/sup>\u00a0Other measures include regular hand washing and avoiding sick people and other animals.<\/sup>\u00a0Antiviral drugs<\/a>, including cidofovir and tecovirimat, vaccinia immune globulin, and the smallpox vaccine, may be used during outbreaks.<\/sup><\/sup> The illness is usually mild, and most infected will recover within a few weeks without treatment.<\/sup>\u00a0Estimates of the risk of death vary from 1% to 10%, although very few deaths as a consequence of monkeypox have been recorded since 2017.<\/sup><\/p>\n

Monkeypox is endemic to West and Central Africa. <\/sup><\/sup>Before the 2022 outbreak, the United Kingdom had recorded only seven previous cases of monkeypox,<\/sup> all of which were imported issues from Africa or healthcare workers involved in their treatment. The first three cases were in 2018,<\/sup> followed by another point in 2019,<\/sup> and three more in 2021.<\/sup> The only major monkeypox outbreak recorded in a\u00a0Western country<\/a> before 2022 was the\u00a02003 Midwest monkeypox outbreak\u00a0in the United States. That one did not feature community transmission.<\/sup><\/sup><\/p>\n

According to the World Health Organization, this outbreak occurred in West Africa. There is a reported case fatality rate of 1%.<\/sup> Portuguese researchers first published the genomic sequence of the virus associated with this outbreak on May 19.<\/sup>\u00a0They confirmed that the monkeypox virus<\/a> was of the West African cladeCladeated to other previous international epidemics in 2018\u201319.<\/sup><\/p>\n

Types of pox<\/h4>\n

There are two known subtypes of pox:<\/p>\n