After some European countries, the number of cases is increasing in the USA, Canada and Australia.
In the UK, where the first monkeypox case was detected in Europe, the number of cases exceeded 1000, and in the USA, it exceeded 300.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, at least 4,700 cases were registered in 49 countries as of the end of June.
The WHO states that monkeypox has not yet constituted a global emergency.
However, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointed out that there are serious concerns about the “size and speed of the current spread”.
What is known about the monkeypox virus, is there a possibility of a new pandemic?
WHAT IS MONKEY FLOWER, HOW COMMON?
Monkeypox is a rare virus. It causes a disease similar to smallpox.
However, the disease is milder in people with monkeypox, and experts say that transmission is less likely in this case.
The virus usually occurs in West African countries near tropical rainforests. There are two main strains of the virus, West African and Central African.
Two people infected with the disease in England had traveled to Nigeria. Therefore, it is possible that they have contracted the milder West African virus, but their status has not yet been confirmed.
The third case reported was a healthcare worker who had contracted the virus from patients.
Three of the other four cases were in the capital, London, and one in the northeast of England. They have no known connection to each other. These people are thought to have contracted the virus in England because they did not travel abroad.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
The first symptoms of the virus are fever, headache, swelling, back pain, muscle pain and weakness.
After the fever subsides, a rash may develop that usually starts on the face and then spreads to other parts of the body, most often the palms and soles.
The rash, which can be very itchy, changes to form a crust and subsides after going through different stages. Wounds can leave scars.
The virus usually goes away on its own and the illness can last 14 to 21 days.
HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED?
The virus can be spread through close contact with another person who has monkeypox. The virus can enter the body through skin abrasions, respiratory tract, eyes, nose or mouth. It can also be transmitted through direct contact during sexual intercourse.
The virus can also be spread through infected animals such as monkeys, rats and squirrels, or through contact with objects such as bedding and clothing.
HOW DANGEROUS?
Most cases are mild in those who have the virus. The virus sometimes resembles chickenpox and disappears on its own within a few weeks.
However, sometimes it can be more severe. It was previously reported to cause deaths in West Africa.
HOW COMMON ARE THE OUTREAKS?
The virus was first detected in a monkey. There have been outbreaks in 10 African countries since 1970.
The first cases outside of Africa were recorded with the outbreak in the USA in 2003. The disease had been passed on to humans from prairie dogs. Dogs were transported with small mammals imported into the country. A total of 81 cases were reported, but none of these cases resulted in death.
In 2017, Nigeria experienced its largest outbreak, nearly 40 years after the country’s last officially recorded monkeypox epidemic. 172 suspected cases of monkeypox were recorded, with 75 percent of patients reported to be men between the ages of 21 and 40.
IS THERE A TREATMENT?
There is no cure for monkeypox, but outbreaks can be controlled by preventing the spread of the virus.
Vaccination against smallpox was proven to be 85 percent effective in preventing monkeypox. The vaccine is still sometimes available.
IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF AN EPIDEMIC?
The risk of a national epidemic in England is quite low, according to public health experts.
Professor Jonathan Ball, Professor of Molecular Virology at the University of Nottingham, said: “The fact that only one out of 50 people who have come into contact with a person infected with monkeypox is infected shows how weak the contagiousness of the virus is.”
“It would be wrong to think we are on the verge of a nationwide epidemic.”
Doctor Nick Phin, Deputy Director of the National Infection Service of Public Health England (PHE), states that monkeypox does not spread easily between people, so the risk of an epidemic is very low.
PHE tracks those who have close contact with patients.