Monkeypox: How is it transmitted? Is there a cure? What are the symptoms?

Today's topic is Monkeypox: how is it transmitted? Is there a cure? What are the symptoms?

You have probably already heard about a new disease that has been causing quite a stir in different parts of the world.

We have barely overcome the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic that has spread across the world since the beginning of 2020 and we already have a new disease to cause concern among the population.

Today's topic is this disease. Monkeypox: how is it transmitted?

And thinking of ways to keep our readers always updated and informed about topics like this, we had the idea of creating this informative material.

In this content, in addition to understanding this disease better, you will also learn about the main points regarding it, such as the forms of transmission, what the symptoms are and whether there is already a cure or at least an estimate of when it should arrive.

This way, we help you and your family to always be well informed and, consequently, more protected.

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by a virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus. 

Although the name associates the disease with primates, this virus is usually more present in rodents.

This association occurred precisely at the time when the disease was discovered.

The first cases were identified in 1958 in a group of monkeys, giving rise to the name of the disease. 

The first case in people was identified years later, in 1970.

We are currently experiencing an outbreak of the disease. The first confirmed cases occurred in May in the United Kingdom,

but the disease has already spread to much of the world.

Monkeypox: How is it transmitted?

Regarding the way in which the disease is transmitted from one person to another, we can say that this contagion occurs through close contact with lesions, bodily fluids, respiratory droplets and the use of contaminated materials, such as bed linen, for example.

And according to the WHO, this rapid transmission between humans is occurring between people who have some type of close physical contact with symptomatic cases. 

That's why it's so important to keep an eye out and, in cases where symptoms of the disease are noticed, it's essential to seek specialized medical help.

What are the symptoms of monkeypox?

Now that you know more about monkeypox and how it is transmitted, let's talk about the symptoms.

Getting into a very relevant topic when it comes to providing information about a certain disease, it's time to talk about the symptoms that a person infected with monkeypox usually presents.

Among the initial symptoms, most patients usually present the following signs:

Fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion.

Another important point to pay attention to is the sequence of symptoms.

Within 1 to 3 days after the fever appears, the patient usually develops a rash.

This type of symptom usually starts on the face and, over time, spreads to other parts of the body.

Monkeypox generally appears 5 to 21 days after exposure to the virus and usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks.

What is the scenario of the disease here in Brazil and in the world?

Despite the concern regarding the spread of the disease in the rest of the world, it is normal that we are more interested in knowing what the outlook for the disease is here in Brazil.

After all, it is important to know this information so that we can understand the situation and the speed at which cases are growing here.

According to the Ministry of Health, reported last Thursday (20), 592 confirmed cases of monkeypox had already been recorded here in Brazil.

In addition to the general overview, the agency also reported how cases are divided across the country.

Of these cases, the vast majority are in São Paulo. To date, the state has recorded 429 cases. Next, we have Rio de Janeiro (with 85 cases) and Minas Gerais (32 cases). 

In addition to these, the other cases are distributed across the country as follows: Federal District (12 cases), Paraná (10 cases), Goiás (9 cases) and Bahia (4 cases).

Ceará, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Norte and Espírito Santo registered two cases each, and Pernambuco, Mato Grosso do Sul and Santa Catarina registered one case each.

Monkeypox in the world

In relation to cases worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) has already received more than 14 thousand cases in 72 countries since monkeypox began to appear.

And so far, it can be said that Brazil is among those with the highest number of infections.

How can you protect yourself and reduce your chances of contracting the disease?

Although we are dealing with a disease that can be considered new – since smallpox already exists – we already know the best ways to protect ourselves.

The measures that enhance our protection and help reduce the risk of contracting the disease are basically the same ones we took to protect ourselves from COVID-19.

These are: the use of protective masks, the practice of social distancing and constant hand hygiene, either with alcohol gel or by washing your hands frequently.

In addition to protecting yourself from this new disease, you are also protecting yourself from the virus that causes COVID-19.

Is monkeypox curable?

Yes, the disease has a cure! 

As you may already know, there is a vaccine against traditional smallpox, and as far as we know, it is also effective for monkeypox.

But the WHO itself explained that people who are 50 years old or younger may be more susceptible to the disease, since vaccination campaigns aimed at combating the disease were interrupted when the disease was considered eradicated, back in the 1980s.

But given the situation – and taking into account that a vaccine already exists for this disease – a vaccination campaign focused directly on combating monkeypox should not be long in coming.

In any case, the disease does not require any specific treatment, as the virus is usually eliminated from our body by our own immune system.

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Ivan July 22, 2022