The first case of the monkeypox virus was recorded in May. The poxvirus was confirmed in a man from Massachusetts. Fast forward to today, the US government has now recorded over 25,000 new cases of the monkeypox rash virus. With the rate at which people now catch this zoonotic disease, it’s only normal for everybody to understand everything about this virus.
What are the warning signs of monkeypox? How exactly does monkeypox spread? Is this virus a sexually transmitted infection? How deadly is this poxvirus? These FAQs and more are what you’ll get answers to, as you read on.
1. What are the symptoms of the monkeypox virus?
What is monkeypox and how can you know whether or not you have this virus? According to experts, monkeypox is a viral infection that falls in the same family as smallpox. Unlike the monkeypox virus, smallpox is very deadly – this is one of the biggest differences between these two diseases.
Another big difference between monkeypox and smallpox is that the former is a self-limiting disease. “Self-limiting” means as time goes on (between 2 to 5 weeks), the monkeypox virus tends to resolve itself and heal completely.
Speaking of the signs of monkeypox; there are a few ways to understand whether or not you might be suffering from this zoonotic disease. The following symptoms are common to this virus:
- Monkeypox rash, which often comes in the form of pimples or clusters, can show up first before other symptoms start showing. But in most cases, patients often experience other signs before getting rashes.
- Headache
- Respiratory diseases, such as cough, nasal congestion, and sore throat.
- Body aches, back aches, and muscle aches.
- Fatigue, fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes.
2. How does the monkeypox virus spread?
The next question is; what should you do when you start having symptoms of the monkeypox virus? All you need is to do everything you can to prevent the further spread of this pox virus.
- One thing you need to understand is that monkeypox doesn’t spread quickly like other viruses out there. The virus will only spread if you’re in close contact with other people, your pets, or animals. Without any close contact, there’s absolutely no way the virus can penetrate any broken skin, such as the mouth and nose, and enter the body.
- With close contact, the virus will easily penetrate the body and come in contact with bodily fluids or lesions.
- Another way the monkeypox virus can spread is if you go in close contact with the possession of the infected people.
3. Can monkeypox be treated?
As earlier mentioned, this poxvirus is self-limiting and can heal completely on its own with time. Without any treatment, you can expect the virus to vanish between 2 to 5 weeks.
For secondary infections, however, you might need to get antibiotics and analgesia from your healthcare provider. Some vaccines have also been approved for the cure of this mild disease. Some smallpox vaccines are also said to be effective in combating this virus. Jynneos or Imvanex is one of the most effective vaccines that can combat both monkeypox & smallpox. ACAM200, licensed in the United States, is another effective product that you can try.
4. Do you need to disinfect your home
To prevent the further spread of this virus, there’s always a need for you to disinfect your home, especially any surface that a patient comes in contact with. According to healthcare experts, the monkeypox virus can always survive for weeks outside the body. As such, a routine disinfection process is often advised for anybody showing the symptoms of the monkeypox virus.
5. Where to get relevant information about this virus?
Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US CDC are two top organizations you can rely on to get relevant information about this pox virus.
You can also visit Monkeypox Near Me to find relevant information about the monkeypox rash and other symptoms in your location. You’ll also get information about the current records of the monkeypox cases.
Also Read: Top 5 Best Skin Treatments For Younger Looking Skin.