During the spring, an unusual number of cases of smallpox were found in several countries.
Monkey pox often causes rashes, sores and blisters. The symptoms are often mild but can be severe in people at risk. In older studies conducted in Africa, some mortality has also been reported.
The blisters can appear on the torso, arms, legs, hands, feet and face. The disease can cause local blisters on the part of the body that has become infected. For example, blisters on and around the genitals, around the anal opening and the mouth have been observed in infection after intimate contacts such as sex.
Symptoms may also include fever, headache and muscle aches as well as swollen lymph nodes.
Monkey pox is a zoonosis, ie a disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans. The virus can be transmitted from animals to humans by close contact. It was discovered in monkeys and was therefore named monkey pox, but it is probably different rodents in Central and West African rainforests that are reservoirs of the virus.
The routes of infection are not completely clear, but the virus is thought to be spread via large droplets from the airways, body fluids and fluid from blisters. It is not entirely clear if the virus can also be spread in other ways.
Source: Swedish Public Health Agency