The recent initiation of monitoring on travelers from Nigeria to the United States has been prompted by concerns over potential contact with individuals infected with Monkeypox, a disease endemic to Nigeria. This surveillance step ignites a renewed interest in this zoonotic disease and raises questions regarding its origin, spread, symptoms, and preventive measures.
About Monkeypox
Monkeypox is a viral disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, hence it is classified as a zoonotic illness. It derives its name from the pox-like disease identified among monkeys. The cause of the Monkeypox is the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family. While the precise natural host of the virus remains undefined, many animals have been reported to carry the disease. Monkeys, apes, various rodents like rats, mice, squirrels, prairie dogs as well as rabbits are known sources of the Monkeypox virus.
Outbreaks of Monkeypox
The first documented case of Monkeypox occurred in 1958 amongst monkeys in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The disease then found its way to humans in DRC by 1970. Subsequent years saw the disease spreading to other West and Central African countries. The most significant outbreak ever recorded happened in Nigeria in 2017, marking 40 years since the last confirmed case.
Symptoms of Monkeypox
The primary symptom of Monkeypox infection is a rash that closely resembles chicken pox. However, accompanying fever, malaise, and headaches are generally more severe than those experienced during a chicken pox infection. Monkeypox can be distinguished from smallpox in its early stages by the enlargement of the lymph gland.
Transmission of Monkeypox
The primary mode of Monkeypox infection involves direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or lesions of an infected animal. Consumption of undercooked meat from infected animals can also increase the risk of transmission. Human-to-human transmission can occur through close contact with the respiratory secretions, skin lesions, or objects recently contaminated by patient fluids or lesion materials of an infected person. The virus can also spread through inoculation or congenital means (via the placenta).
Monkeypox Vulnerability and Fatality Rates
The disease spreads rapidly and can cause fatalities in about one out of ten infected individuals.
Treatment and Vaccine for Monkeypox
There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine available for Monkeypox. Previously, the smallpox vaccine proved 85% effective in preventing Monkeypox, but its supply dwindled following the global eradication of smallpox in 1980. Currently, the management of Monkeypox spread is handled individually by affected countries, with no global system in place to contain outbreaks.
The Way Forward For Managing Monkeypox
Improving surveillance and response systems for Monkeypox is crucial. Raising awareness about the disease and avoiding contact with wild animals, particularly monkeys, are effective preventive measures. Animals suspected of contact with infected counterparts should be quarantined and observed for Monkeypox symptoms for a 30-day period using standard precautions. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, attention to other diseases has dwindled, leading to a drop in reported cases as people avoid visiting health facilities. Refocusing on these diseases is therefore crucial for maintaining public health.
Last Modified: February 15, 2024