Monkeypox has continued to spread globally as Ireland has announced its first case. The Czech Republic and Slovenia also reported their first cases on Tuesday this week, making it 21 countries detect the virus outside Africa, where the disease is endemic.
Outbreaks of the virus have been found in Europe, Australia, and America.
According to Public Health Agency(PHA), “a notable proportion of recent cases in England and Europe have been found in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, so the PHA is particularly encouraging them to be alert to the symptoms and seek help if concerned.”
They also assured patients of confidentiality and full support.
Causes of monkeypox are also being investigated in other countries, including the US, Canada, and Australia.
Monkey Pox and Nigeria
Monkeypox, a variant of smallpox, is endemic to Africa. After its first outbreak in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), West Africa recorded a series of cases.
In Nigeria, 558 suspected cases with 231 (41.4%) confirmed have been recorded from September 2017 to April 2022. From January 1 to April 30, 2022, 46 suspected cases and 15 have been confirmed in 7 states. No death has been recorded this year.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC) has warned that monkeypox has no cure.
In a statement on their website, the NCDC said;
“There are no specific treatments available for monkeypox infection, although various novel antiviral have in-vitro and animal data supportive effects such as Brincindofocir and Tecovirimat.”
“Measures that can be taken to prevent infection with monkeypox virus include: avoiding contact with animals that could harbour the virus, both sick or dead animals in areas where monkeypox cases have occurred; avoiding contact with any material that has been in contact with a sick animal; thoroughly cooking any animal that might have come into contact with an infected animal; handling them with standard precautions and observing monkeypox symptoms for 30 days and washing with soap and water after contact with infected animals.”
How does one get monkeypox?
- Monkey Pox spreads through close contact with an infected person
- It enters the body through broken skin, eyes, ears, nose, or mouth.
- It usually clears up on its own and lasts between 14 and 21 days.
- While monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection, it can spread through sexual contact.
Symptoms of Monkeypox
Symptoms of Monkeypox usually take 5 to 21 days to appear after infection. They include headache, fever, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, fatigue, and a rash that often begins on the face. The rash eventually spreads to other parts of the body, particularly the hands and feet.
It goes through changes and different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.
Symptoms usually take between five and 21 days to appear after infection.