The US monkeypox outbreak has been deemed a public health emergency by the Biden administration.
“We’re prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus, and we urge every American to take this virus seriously and to take responsibility to help us tackle this virus,” US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said.
A poxvirus that is related to cowpox and smallpox is monkeypox. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it typically results in lesions that resemble pimples or blisters and flu-like symptoms like fever.
The lesions generally only affect the arms and legs, but during current outbreak, the vaginal and perianal regions are becoming more commonly affected.
“Classically, it presents like many other viral illnesses with what’s called a viral prodrome, and symptoms like fevers, chills, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue and muscle aches are common. Within five days of the prodrome starting, patients develop a rash that can look like pimples or blisters,” said Dr. Jason Zucker, an infectious diseases specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
How is monkeypox transmitted?
According to the CDC, monkeypox spreads through close contact. This involves coming into contact with lesions directly, as well as exchanging “respiratory secretions” with people face-to-face or touching things that have been contaminated with monkeypox fluids or lesions. The placenta is another route via which the virus might infect a fetus.
The outbreak’s cases appear to have a lot in common with sexual contact, frequently during intercourse. According to the CDC, studies are still being conducted to determine if monkeypox can transmit asymptomatically or through semen or vaginal fluids.
Who is at risk of monkeypox?
Anyone who has had contact with someone with a monkeypox-like rash, or who has had contact with someone who has a probable or confirmed case of monkeypox, is at high risk for infection.
However, a large number of cases in this outbreak have been in men who have sex with men, including gay and bisexual men, and public health officials are focusing their prevention efforts in this group. The virus is not unique to this community, but the nature of its close-contact spread has led to a disproportionate impact.
“The vast majority of those who have been diagnosed to date with human monkeypox virus are self-identifying men who have sex with men,” Zucker said.
“This is likely due to shared sexual networks. So what we’re seeing is, they’re seeing it first and experiencing the majority of cases. Just like other diseases, there’s no reason it can’t spread to other communities via sexual or other close contact,” he said.
People who “had skin-to-skin contact with someone in a social network experiencing monkeypox activity,” such as men who have sex with partners they meet online, through an app, or at a social gathering, are at higher risk during this outbreak, according to the CDC.
According to the CDC, those who have immune system-compromising diseases like HIV and eczema as well as kids under the age of eight may be more susceptible to developing serious illnesses if infected.
What should I do if I get signs of monkey pox?
Avoid close contact with other individuals if you have a new rash or other signs of monkeypox until you have seen a doctor and been tested.
“When you see a healthcare provider, wear a mask, and remind them that the virus is circulating in the area,” the CDC says.
The organization advises isolation at home and away from family members until the rash or lesions have disappeared if you have been diagnosed with monkeypox.
What is the cure for the monkey pox?
The CDC states that there is no recognized cure for monkeypox. However, because it shares genetic similarities with smallpox, doctors can treat it similarly by prescribing antiviral drugs.
The CDC is providing tecovirimat, an antiviral drug also known as Tpoxx, in doses to monkeypox patients at risk of developing severe illness. People with severe infections and those with compromised immune systems may fall into this category. A research on Tpoxx as a therapy for monkeypox has also been announced by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The World Health Organization recommends that efforts be made to address monkeypox symptoms and side effects as part of treatment.
Is there a vaccination for monkeypox?
In the US, there are two vaccines available to prevent monkeypox, but not everyone qualifies for one.
The smallpox vaccine ACAM2000, which can also be used to prevent monkeypox, is in “ample supply” in the US. The CDC advises against using it in patients with specific medical disorders.
Jynneos, a different vaccination designed specifically to prevent monkeypox, is in short supply. Municipalities receive federal stock according on the quantity of cases and the people at risk in a specific location.
More than 600,000 doses of Jynneos have been distributed from the Strategic National Stockpile, and another 150,000 doses are anticipated to arrive in September, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. According to the CDC, at least 1.5 million Americans are eligible to receive the monkeypox vaccine.
The federal government has suggested altering the manner in which vaccines are physically administered, which could allow the current stockpile to last longer.
The two doses of Jynneos are separated by four weeks. However, some doctors have recommended a single-dose schedule while supplies are still low.
The CDC states that vaccination against monkeypox can be administered as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and epidemic response PEP (PEP++).
Before they might come into contact with the virus, members of high-risk communities, such as lab or healthcare workers, receive the PrEP vaccination.
PEP refers to immunizing individuals after a known exposure to a disease or to lessen symptoms. The CDC advises giving the vaccine up to four days after exposure for prevention. If PEP is administered four to 14 days after exposure, the sickness might be milder.
The CDC recommends PEP++ for persons who have not yet been diagnosed with the virus but may have risk factors that increase their likelihood of contracting it.
Could I get vaccinated?
Demand for the monkeypox vaccination is great, but supply constraints and eligibility limitations make it now difficult to locate.
The vaccination requirements are still a little stringent.
Those who have been known, verified contacts with monkeypox sufferers are eligible for vaccination. According to the CDC, assumed contacts who had a sexual partner with monkeypox within the previous 14 days, those who had many sex partners within that time frame in a region where monkeypox is spreading, and people whose occupations may expose them to monkeypox are also eligible.
Contact your doctor or the local health department to learn more about your eligibility if you believe you fit one of these requirements.
How can I protect myself?
The CDC advises against sharing personal items or being in close proximity to someone who has monkeypox. Another suggestion is to wash your hands frequently.
The vaccination requirements are still a little stringent.
Those who have been known, verified contacts with monkeypox sufferers are eligible for vaccination. According to the CDC, assumed contacts who had a sexual partner with monkeypox within the previous 14 days, those who had many sex partners within that time frame in a region where monkeypox is spreading, and people whose occupations may expose them to monkeypox are also eligible.
Contact your doctor or the local health department to learn more about your eligibility if you believe you fit one of these requirements.
How can I protect myself?
The CDC advises against sharing personal items or being in close proximity to someone who has monkeypox. Another suggestion is to wash your hands frequently.