Free Courses Sale ends Soon, Get It Now


MONKEY POX VIRUS

17th February, 2023

Copyright infringement is not intended.

Context

  • As many as 85,765 confirmed and 1,382 probable cases of Monkeypox were reported from 110 countries since January 1, 2022, according to a statement by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Monkey Pox Virus

About

  • Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions.
  • Monkeypox virus is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virusthat belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family.
  • The first case of monkeypox in humans was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congoduring a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox.
  • Scientists have so far discovered two distinct genetic groups of monkeypox virus—Central African and West African.

Cause

  • It is caused by monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.
  • Monkeypox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox. But Smallpox had a higher fatality rate than monkeypox.
  • Smallpox was declared eradicated worldwide in 1980.

Symptoms

  • Monkeypox is characterised by flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymph nodes, which gradually progresses to a widespread rash all over the face and body.

Transmission

  • Monkeypox virus is mostly transmitted to people from wild animals such as rodents and primates, but human-to-human transmission also occurs.
  • It spreads from one person to another via respiratory droplets.

Treatment

  • There is currently no specific treatment recommended for monkeypox.
  • Vaccination against smallpox was about 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.
  • Thus, prior childhood smallpox vaccination may result in a milder disease course.

 

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/global-mpox-cases-crosses-85-000-toll-rises-to-93-in-a-year-who-87695