India has recorded 4 cases of the Monkeypox virus. Read on to know more about the causes, symptoms, and effective measures undertaken to stay protected from this virus.
WHO On Monkeypox Virus
The World Health Organization has raised concerns about the spread of this virus and has declared the virus a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). This zoonotic disease is caused by the monkeypox virus. It belongs to the same family of viruses that causes smallpox. As per WHO, it is not as contagious as Smallpox. As per WHO, the disease is endemic in regions like West and Central Africa but recently cases have been reported from non-endemic countries also.
In India, a man aged 34 from Delhi was found to be infected with the virus. Surprisingly, the man has no travel history. This is the fourth case of Monkeypox in India. The other three cases were from Kerala.
How Monkeypox Spreads?
- The virus is transmitted in humans from an infected person or an animal.
- An individual can contract monkeypox by coming in close contact with the body fluids, lesions, respiratory droplets, and materials like the bedding of the infected person.
- Animals including tree squirrels, rope squirrels, and many species of monkeys are infected by the virus.
What Are The Symptoms?
- The Monkeypox virus is not as contagious as Smallpox and the symptoms last for 5-21 days in individuals.
- Symptoms mainly include fever, intense headache, back pain, myalgia (muscle aches), intense asthenia (lack of energy), and lymphadenopathy or swelling of the lymph nodes.
- The skin eruption in the infected person occurs after three days of the fever. The person gets rashes all over the body, in 95% of the cases, the rashes occur on the face.
- The rashes usually develop and have lesions filled with yellowish fluid. The rashes get dry and fall off within a few weeks.
What Precautions Should Be Taken?
- Avoid half-cooked meat and other animal products.
- Do not come in direct contact with the infected person.
- Maintain physical distancing with the infected person.
- Do not use personal items of the infected person such as their comb, towel, or bedding.
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