Monkeypox is the latest infectious disease to emerge and threaten our global health. Experts cannot predict whether or not its prevalence will reach epidemic proportions like COVID-19. But these are three things we know about this disease and also three reasons why health experts are taking this surge seriously (and why you should, too):
Monkeypox isn’t new.
Technically. The monkeypox virus belongs to the same viral family as the smallpox virus. That explains why these infections look a lot like smallpox.
Monkeypox isn’t smallpox.
Monkeypox and smallpox both cause face and skin rashes and lesions. But, there’s one big difference between the two. Monkeypox infections also affect the lymph nodes (part of the immune system that helps fight infections and diseases)1.
Monkeypox symptoms include a rash.
Swollen lymph nodes are a symptom of monkeypox. But its hallmark feature is a rash. Like smallpox, this rash can appear anywhere on a person’s body. And it follows a cycle of outbreak, scabbing, and healing. Monkeypox symptoms can also include fever, lesions (on the body), muscle aches, and breathing problems.1
Since the first documented US case on May 19, 2022, we’ve noticed an outbreak of the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox is a rare disease. But health experts are taking the surge of infectious as a threat to our public health and safety. These are three reasons why:
Monkeypox has no cure.
Monkeypox is a viral infection. And there aren’t many ways to cure viral infections. Previously, smallpox vaccines offered a high level of protection against the monkeypox virus. But, in 1980, the US eliminated smallpox.2 Since then, there haven’t been many vaccines readily available to protect against these infections.
Monkeypox causes complications.
Monkeypox infections can be deadly in some. And in others, it can cause secondary complications like bacterial infections, eye infections with possible loss of vision, bronchopneumonia, breathing problems, and sepsis (extreme body response to an infection).
Monkeypox has a high transmission rate.
We’ve seen an increase in human-to-human transmission of monkeypox.1 Health experts say these infections spread through close, direct contact with an infected source (like a rash or body secretions) or contaminated surfaces. More positive cases can lead to greater transmissibility and, ultimately, mutation. (When viruses mutate, they can become harder to prevent).
Monkeypox hasn’t grown to the stage of being considered an epidemic. But that doesn’t mean we should dismiss its potential. Hopefully, after reading this post, you know more about monkeypox and will be more diligent against infections.