Monkeypox

Characterized by fever, skin rash, chills, head and muscle aches, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes, Monkeypox or Mpox is typically isolated to Central and West African nations, although cases have been reported in Europe and North America, generally caused by international travel, the importation of infected animals or any close contact with persons or animals suffering from the disease.

Related to Smallpox

A less severe cousin of the smallpox virus, Monkeypox was first identified in 1958, when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease broke out in colonies of research monkeys—hence its name, Monkeypox—and while the natural reservoir of Monkeypox has not been identified, the zoonotic disease is most likely spread by rodents or similar animals. Outbreaks have been reported in eleven African nations, while the first outbreak in the United States dates back to 2003, with 47 confirmed cases in several midwestern states, mostly likely caused by contact with pet prairie dogs housed with infected rats and door mice imported from Ghana, while a second 2022 outbreak in the U.S. led to 30,555 confirmed cases and 43 fatalities.

Varied Incubation Period

With an incubation period of 5-21 days, symptoms generally persist from two to four weeks, and although not considered an airborne disease like Covid 19, symptomatic Monkeypox patients should isolate from non-infected persons until their symptoms are no longer present. Many patients also develop painful, raised poxes, which are generally pearly and fluid filled, often surrounded by red circles. While Monkeypox isn’t considered a sexually transmitted disease, the Centers For Disease Control & Prevention or CDC reported that a notable percentage of Monkeypox cases in the 2022-23 U.S. outbreak were reported in gay and bisexual men.

A Disease for the Young

The outbreak also concentrated in Americans under the age of 50, since most older Americans received early immunity from the smallpox vaccine, which was routinely given to children in the 1950s and 60s in an effort to eradicate the disease, and while smallpox vaccines generally protect individuals from Monkeypox, other targeted vaccines are currently available, including Imvamune, Imvanex and ACAM2000, making Monkeypox, yet another viral threat to humans the world over.