Monkey pox: A Viral Zoonotic Disease

Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by the monkey-pox virus, a member of the Orthopedists genus in the Poxviridae family (Monkey pox virus - Wikipedia, 2006). This virus is part of the same family as the variola virus, which causes smallpox.

Transmission and Origin

Despite its name, the origin of the monkeypox virus remains unknown (About Mpox | Mpox | Poxvirus, 2023). However, African rodents and non-human primates like monkeys are suspected to be natural reservoirs and can transmit the virus to humans.

The virus can spread through:

• Animal-to-human transmission: Direct contact with infected animals, such as bites, scratches, or contact with bodily fluids.

• Human-to-human transmission: Contact with infected bodily fluids, lesions, or respiratory droplets.

Symptoms and Clinical Presentation

Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox but milder (Monkeypox virus - Wikipedia, 2006). They typically include:

• Initial symptoms: Fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion.

• Rash: A few days after the fever, a rash develops, often starting on the face and spreading to other body parts. The rash evolves from flat spots to raised bumps, then to fluid-filled blisters that eventually scab over and fall off.

Virulence and Clade

The severity of monkey pox can vary depending on the virus strain. Two distinct clade exist:

• Clade I: Associated with more severe disease.

• Clade II: Generally causes milder illness.

Treatment and Prevention

While no specific treatment exists for monkeypox, vaccination against smallpox provides some cross-protection.

Preventing monkeypox involves:

• Avoiding contact with infected animals, especially rodents and primates in endemic areas.

• Practicing good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing.

• Avoiding contact with infected individuals.