Here’s what you need to know about the rare virus.
As the monkeypox virus continues to spread around the world, health officials have confirmed cases of the rare virus in four Canadian provinces.
Smallpox is a rare disease caused by a viral relative of smallpox. It is usually limited to Africa, and rare cases in the US and elsewhere are often related to traveling there.
The name of the disease comes from its discovery in 1958 by scientists who observed two outbreaks of a “smallpox-like” disease in research monkeys.
The disease is zoonotic, that is, it is caused by germs that spread between animals and humans. The first known human infection was documented in 1970 in a nine-year-old boy from a remote part of the Congo.
What is the current situation?
Since May, more than 700 cases of smallpox have been confirmed in non-endemic countries, with the lion’s share in Europe. In Canada and the United States, infections caused by a West African clade, which tends to cause mild illness, have also been diagnosed.
“While most, but not all, of recent global infections occur among young men who are identified as having sex with other men, the virus can affect anyone through close person-to-person contact.” , notes the BCCDC.
How is the monkey’s smallpox spread?
The monkey’s smallpox is transmitted from person to person through contact with sores and items such as bedding or towels that contain the virus. It can also be spread through coughing sneezes and sneezing during direct and prolonged face-to-face contact with a person who has smallpox. Although the virus is not known to be transmitted through semen, vaginal or rectal fluids, it spreads through close contact during sexual activity.
In Africa, people have been infected by rodent or small animal bites, and it does not usually spread easily among people.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
It usually begins with a flu-like illness and swelling of the lymph nodes, followed by a rash on the face and body. According to the BCCDC, the symptoms appear in two stages and can last between two and four weeks.
In the first stage, the following symptoms may appear:
- Fever
- Shivers
- Intense headache
- swollen lymph nodes
- Back pain
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue or exhaustion
- Other less common symptoms may include sore throat, cough, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
About one to five days after the first stage, the second begins. Symptoms may include:
- A rash that often starts on the face or legs and arms, and can affect other parts of the body, such as the hands, feet, mouth, and genitals.
- Monkeypox ulcers usually last 2 to 3 weeks. The sores change in appearance over time, from high spots to small blisters filled with fluid. Eventually they form a crust and fall off.
“The rash tends to be more concentrated in the face and limbs than in the trunk. It affects the face (in 95% of cases), and the palms of the hands and soles of the feet (in 75%). Also affected are the oral mucosa (in 70% of cases), the genitals (30%) and the conjunctiva (20%), as well as the cornea, “said the World Health Organization (WHO). ).
What do I do if I have been exposed?
If you have been exposed to the virus, watch for symptoms. Symptoms may appear five to 21 days after exposure. If you experience symptoms, consult a healthcare professional. Wear a mask and cover the injuries, and let the clinic know in advance the reason for your visit.
During this period, you should limit close contact with other people, including sexual contact.
What if I get monkeypox?
If you think you have contracted the monkeypox virus, contact your doctor. Let them know if you’ve been in close contact with someone who has the virus.
Until you see your healthcare provider, stay home and isolate yourself. If possible, stay away from people you live with and do not share towels, clothes, or sheets. See if other members of your household, family, or friends can care for any pets so as not to transmit smallpox from monkeys to animals.
Public Health will contact you if you test positive for the virus and provide instructions on the next steps.
Smallpox is usually a mild illness and most people recover on their own after a few weeks, the BCCDC notes. Although there are no well-established treatments for the virus, “antiviral medication can be considered on a case-by-case basis.”
Prevention and vaccination of monkeypox
Canada has a limited amount of Imvamune ™, a vaccine that provides protection against the monkeypox virus. However, it is not currently available to the general public.
“Can be used to manage [the] spreading smallpox and preventing serious illness in people who have been exposed, “explains the BCCDC, noting that it does not benefit someone who is already infected.
The risk of smallpox in the general public is very low, the BCCDC advises. The general public does not need to be vaccinated.
With archives of the Canadian press.