It’s not like we need another virus, but it’s not like we have a choice either. Monkeypox (better known as the English monkeypox) is caused by a virus that is not very widespread and so far mainly found in Africa. The current outbreak is the first noticeable outside Africa since 2003, when 70 cases were reported in the United States. Since the beginning of May, a few dozen cases have been identified, especially in Europe and America, according to the count made by researchers at the University of Oxford.
So far, two cases have been confirmed in Montreal and about twenty others are under investigation, announced the Ministry of Health and Social Services of Quebec (MSSS) Thursday evening. Doctors and public health authorities remain on the lookout, though they don’t fear large-scale community transmission.
What is that ?
This virus has a funny name, since its main animal reservoir consists of small rodents, which are the usual vector of transmission to the human species.
On the other hand, the reference to « smallpox » is correct, because it is indeed a cousin of this other virus. The existence of monkeypox was discovered in the early 1970s, after the disappearance of smallpox – a terrible disease with high contagion and a mortality rate of around 30% – following the success of vaccination.
Monkeypox is much less serious, with mortality rates of 0% for the 2003 US outbreak and 3% to 6% in Africa for recent outbreaks, according to the WHO, depending on the strain involved. and no doubt the ability to cure complications. Cases have been on the rise since the onset of the disease. During the decade 2010-2019, there were nearly 20,000, mainly concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This virus is however much less contagious than that of smallpox, which explains the absence of significant human epidemics so far. Nothing indicates that it will be different this time, even if, after two years of pandemic, one must be careful of any new outbreak of an infectious disease.
Transmission is either by direct contact with lesions or by droplets, and possibly by aerosols, usually with close contact. The MSSS specifies that monkeypox “is contracted by prolonged and close contact with an infectious person. Its contagiousness is therefore considered [comme] limited compared to other viruses (flu, COVID-19, etc.). It is also much less contagious than chickenpox.
Is it an STI?
Monkeypox is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection, but current outbreaks raise doubts due to the predominance of oral and genital lesions (which is unusual). One may wonder if this is not a new mode of transmission following a mutation of the virus.
Be that as it may, the fact that several of the cases listed concern gay or bisexual people is not yet really explained, except by the presence of probable intimate contacts in a chain of transmission mainly affecting, for the moment, the LGBTQ+ community.
What are the symptoms ?
After contamination, the incubation period is rather long, since the person has no symptoms for 5 to 21 days. However, the period of contagion begins about 5 days before the first symptoms. The long period without symptoms can therefore amplify the transmission, the person not realizing that he is already affected.
Subsequently, the disease presents like any viral infection: fever, chills and headache. Redness on the skin, which turns into fluid-filled blisters which can be numerous, as with chickenpox, appears 3 to 5 days later. We also note the swelling of some lymph nodes. Healing of the lesions may take 2 to 4 weeks, while the other symptoms will disappear in a few days in the absence of complications.
So far, the forms encountered in the current outbreak appear to be rather benign. Monkeypox sometimes causes complications that can lead to death if not treated properly. It could be, for example, a more serious infection of the skin, pneumonia or even a brain disorder called encephalitis.
Is there a specific treatment?
Unfortunately no. Some antiviral drugs are sometimes used without much knowledge of their effectiveness. Management aims above all to identify complications, when they occur, and to treat them while waiting for the disease to pass.
In case of suspicious lesions, a medical professional should be consulted. The diagnosis is then made using a PCR test, as for COVID-19. Then, it is important to isolate yourself and apply the sanitary measures that you have known well for two years (hand washing, distancing and wearing a mask), given that you can be contagious until recovery. vesicles.
Is there a vaccine?
People vaccinated against human smallpox are unlikely to catch monkey pox. The problem is that this vaccine has not been given since 1972 in North America and that its circulation has been restricted since the eradication of smallpox in 1979. It is delicate to handle and involves certain risks for immunosuppressed people. There is a new vaccine, safer and just as effective, and its use could be considered if necessary, if the health authorities deem it useful.
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