MONKEYPOX VIRUS

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

The World Health Organization Country Office for India has sought the assistance of India’s — ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, — to test suspected cases of monkeypox for the south-east Asia region (SEAR) member-states.

Monkey Pox Virus

About

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africaand is occasionally exported to other regions.
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.

Mutation

Monkeypox virus is a DNA virus with a quite large genome of around 2,00,000 nucleotide bases.
While being a DNA virus, the rate of mutations in the monkeypox virus is significantly lower (~1-2 mutations per year) compared to RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
The low rate of mutation therefore limits the wide application of genomic surveillance in providing detailed clues to the networks of transmission for monkeypox, unlike what was possible for SARS-CoV-2.

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.

Trivia

Recent monkeypox outbreaks are unusual in India because they are occurring in countries where the virus has not been endemic.