10 Major Facts About The Monkeypox Virus

The state commissioner for health,
Professor Ebitimitula Etebu has since
confirmed the development.



Monkeypox is a rare disease that occurs
primarily in remote parts of Central andWest Africa, near tropical rain forests.



The monkeypox virus can cause a fatal
illness in humans.


The Center for Disease Control and
Prevention has listed the major facts about the disease.



1. Double stranded DNA virus (Zoonotic)
Family poxviridae, Genus orthopoxvirus
Family of pox viruses includes other viruses
like chicken pox or the eradicated small pox.


2. History 1958: First identified in laboratory monkey
kept for research


1970: First human case was identified in DR
Congo


1985: First isolation in nature, in an ailing
rope squirrel in DR Congo


2003: First human infection outside Africa
documented in USA


3. Transmission From infected animals or humans
Following contact with body fluids/materials of animals or infected humans
Following bite, scratch or even bush meat preparation.


Entry via broken skin or mucosa (skin,
respiratory tract, mucus membrane eye,nose, mouth).

Shared utensils, bed, room etc increase risk of transmission.

4. Incubation period:
7-14 days commonly but could extend from 5 to 21 days.

5. Signs and symptoms:
Similar to small pox but milder
Fever, chills, drenching night sweats,
headache,Muscles aches (backache), Exhaustion-
Lymph-nodes swell up (absent in small pox)


6. Case definition

A: Designed to detect single cases followed by immediate response and control efforts.

- Fever followed by rash (vesicular/pustular)with rash on palm, soles and face or 5
various-like scars

B: Designed for use in the context of disease surveillance to elaborate on burden in endemic areas

- Individual with vesicular/pustular
eruptions with at least one of the
symptoms: fever preceding eruptions,
lymphadenopathy and/or pustules/crust on
the palms of the hands or sole of the feet

7. After 1-10 days

Centrifugal rash: Rash macule-papule-
vesicles-pustules-umbilical-then crusted
(scab)

8. Case fatality:
-1-10% die from this infection

9. Prevention:
Small pox vaccine (for at risk workers)which can be given up to 14 days post exposure
Hygiene (Hand washing) with soap and
water or alcohol based sanitizer
Avoid ill or dead animals' suspects or their
materials Isolation of suspects or identified cases
Use personal protective equipment when
caring for patients (for health workers)

10. Treatment and vaccine:
There are no specific treatments or vaccines
available for monkeypox infection, but outbreaks can be controlled. Vaccination
against smallpox has been proven to be
85% effective in preventing monkeypox in
the past but the vaccine is no longer
available to the general public after it was
discontinued following global smallpox
eradication.