Breaking: Monkey pox hits Lagos, two cases recorded - johnnybility

Breaking: Monkey pox hits Lagos, two cases recorded - johnnybility

The dreaded  but rare viral zoonotic disease (from animal to man) caused by Monkey pox virus that recently began in Bayelsa has reportedly hit Lagos state with two cases allegedly recorded. The first case of monkeypox in Bayelsa has been traced to a monkey, but the biology of the virus allows it to be transmitted from human to human once it gets into human populations

KEY FACTS WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MONKEYPOX OUTBREAK.

If you are like me, you won't have heard of monkeypox before. I most certainly had never heard of it. But following the outbreak in Bayelsa State, it is important that we keep ourselves informed on this supposedly rare disease (obviously not so rare now is it). According to the Commissioner, the index case in Bayelsa State originated from Agbura, where the victim had reportedly killed and eaten a monkey.

Monkeypox has been shown to cause death in as many as 1 in 10 persons who contract the disease.

Monkeypox virus was first seen in monkeys,thus its name, but can also be found in all bush animals, such as rats, squirrels and antelopes. Secretions from dead animals are particularly dangerous and highly contagious.

TO BE FOREWARNED IS TO BE FOREARMED AS THERE IS NO SPECIFIC TREATMENT OR VACCINE.

Thus, the only way to reduce infection in people is by raising awareness of the risk factors and educating people about the measures they can take to reduce exposure to the virus

If we all know what exactly it is, what to look out for; what to avoid, we might be able to ensure it certainly does not spread and stop it dead in its tracks, because apparently it can spread so easily from human-to-human interaction.

SO WHAT IS MONKEYPOX EXACTLY?

Monkeypox is a rare disease that occurs primarily in remote parts of Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.

The monkeypox virus can cause a fatal illness in humans and, although it is similar to human smallpox which has been eradicated, it is much milder.

The monkeypox virus is transmitted to people from various wild animals but has limited secondary spread through human-to-human transmission.

Typically, case fatality in monkeypox outbreaks has been between 1% and 10%, with most deaths occurring in younger age groups.

There is NO TREATMENT OR VACCINE AVAILABLE although prior smallpox vaccination was highly effective in preventing monkeypox as well.

SO HOW DOES IT SPREAD??

Infection of index cases results from direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal lesions of infected animals.

Human infections have been documented through the handling of infected monkeys, giant rats and squirrels, with rodents being the major reservoir of the virus. Eating inadequately cooked meat of infected animals is a possible risk factor".

Secondary, or human-to-human, transmission can result from close contact with infected respiratory tract secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or objects recently contaminated by patient fluids or lesion materials.

Transmission occurs primarily via droplet respiratory particles usually requiring prolonged face-to-face contact, which puts household members of active cases at greater risk of infection.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

The incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) of monkeypox is usually from 6 to 16 days but can range from 5 to 21 days.

The infection can be divided into two periods:

The invasion period (0-5 days) characterized by fever, intense headache, lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph node), back pain, myalgia (muscle ache) and an intense asthenia (lack of energy);

The skin eruption period (within 1-3 days after appearance of fever) where the various stages of the rash appears, often beginning on the face and then spreading elsewhere on the body. The face (in 95% of cases), and palms of the hands and soles of the feet (75%) are most affected.

REDUCING THE RISK OF INFECTION IN PEOPLE

During human monkeypox outbreaks, close contact with other patients is the most significant risk factor for monkeypox virus infection.

Reducing the risk of animal-to-human transmission -
thoroughly cook all animal products (blood, meat) before eating.

Gloves and other appropriate protective clothing should be worn while handling sick animals or their infected tissues, and during slaughtering procedures.

Reducing the risk of human-to-human transmission -close physical contact with monkeypox infected people should be avoided.

Gloves and protective equipment should be worn when taking care of ill people.

Regular hand washing should be carried all times but most especially after caring for or visiting sick people.