Monkeypox virus outbreak

2022 - 5 - 23

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Image courtesy of "CNBC"

Monkeypox outbreak is primarily spreading through sex, WHO ... (CNBC)

European nations have confirmed dozens of cases in what's become the largest outbreak of monkeypox ever on the Continent, according to the German military.

The U.S. has confirmed at least two cases and Canada has confirmed at least five so far. The vaccine used to prevent smallpox appears to be about 85% effective in guarding against monkeypox in observational research in Africa, WHO officials said. That then progresses to a rash on the face, hands, feet, eyes, mouth or genitals that turns into raised bumps, or papules, that then become blisters that often resemble chicken pox. The WHO convened an emergency meeting this weekend via video conference to look at the virus, identify those most at risk and study its transmission. Two confirmed and one suspected case of monkeypox in the U.K. were reported to the WHO just 10 days ago, the first cases this year outside of Africa where the virus has generally circulated at low levels over the last 40 years, the organization said. European nations have confirmed dozens of cases in what's become the largest outbreak of monkeypox ever on the Continent, according to the German military.

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Image courtesy of "NBC News"

Map: Countries with confirmed monkeypox cases in the 2022 outbreak (NBC News)

As of May 23, four times as many countries outside of Africa have reported monkeypox this month than have in the previous 50 years.

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Image courtesy of "NBC New York"

CDC Expects More US Monkeypox Cases as Tests Pend for ... (NBC New York)

Monkeypox: How does it spread? Where was the first US case? Is it airborne? Does smallpox vaccine offer protection? Here are the answers to the questions...

See more information from the travel notice here. Monkeypox also causes lymph nodes to swell, something that smallpox does not. It presents itself as a flu-like illness accompanied by lymph-node swelling and rash on the face and body. Monkeypox starts off with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. Other African countries where it has been found: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone. Monkeypox is rarely identified outside of Africa, but as of Friday, there were 80 confirmed cases worldwide, including at least two in the United States, and another 50 suspected ones. Biden added that work was underway to determine which vaccine might be effective. Most potential cases the CDC is investigating do not involve recent travel to countries that typically see a lot of monkeypox, so it says it is working diligently to track the connections. One of the latter is being treated in isolation in New York City. - Person of Interest Identified in Deadly NYC ... Most people who become infected recover within two to four weeks with little or no intervention. The agency is responsible for confirming potential cases as state and city health departments sent samples.

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Image courtesy of "Eyewitness News"

Should South Africans be worried about a monkeypox outbreak? (Eyewitness News)

John Perlman spoke to Professor Shabir Madhi about the virus and whether it is something we should be concerned about.

John Perlman spoke to Professor Shabir Madhi about the virus and whether it is something we should be concerned about. John Perlman spoke to Professor Shabir Madhi about the virus and whether it is something we should be concerned about. Should South Africans be worried about a monkeypox outbreak?

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Image courtesy of "Zee News"

Monkeypox virus disease outbreak: New cases only tip of iceberg ... (Zee News)

The global health body does not believe that the spread of the monkeypox virus outside of Africa requires mass vaccinations as measures like good hygiene ...

An antiviral agent developed for the treatment of smallpox has also been licensed for the treatment of monkeypox, according to WHO. Newer vaccines have been developed of which one has been approved for prevention of the disease. The disease is usually self-limiting with the symptoms lasting from two to four weeks. Britain, where the first European case was confirmed on May 7 in an individual who returned to England from Nigeria, has already started to offer a smallpox vaccine to some healthcare workers and others who may have been exposed to the monkeypox virus. The disease occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa. Pebody noted that monkeypox is not a virus that spreads very easily, nor has it so far caused serious disease.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

What is monkeypox and how can it be treated? (Aljazeera.com)

Dr Khan looks at the new outbreak of an old virus that has been detected in about a dozen countries in two weeks.

The virus spreads more slowly than the COVID virus and most people exhibit symptoms, including a distinctive rash which is easier to recognise than some of the vague symptoms COVID causes. Monkeypox is not known to be a sexually transmitted virus, but sexual contact would constitute as close contact, one of the main routes by which the virus is known to spread. The World Health Organization has started holding daily emergency meetings on the infection and continues to monitor the situation globally. Zoonotic spread of viruses will continue to cause concern while we encroach on the environments of wild animals, and handle them as part of science, the food and the pet trade. It may be that members of the LGBTQ community are better at getting sexual health checks, so the virus is simply being picked up more here than in the heterosexual community. The monkeypox virus is part of a family of viruses known as “DNA viruses”. Unlike the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, which is an RNA virus, DNA viruses mutate at a much lower rate as they are better at identifying errors in their genetic makeup and correcting them during the replication process. For the vast majority of people, signs and symptoms of monkeypox will resolve on their own, without any treatment. Currently, there is no specific vaccine available for monkeypox, however, the smallpox vaccine has been shown to offer 85 percent protection against monkeypox. The monkeypox virus is now thought to be nearing 100 cases in 12 countries, and more are expected as surveillance is stepped up. Monkeypox is caused by a virus endemic to tropical parts of Africa. Despite its name, monkeypox is rarely spread through infected monkeys, but is more common in rodents such as squirrels, rats and mice. However, if monkeypox is suspected, clinicians should take a sample of fluid from one of the lesions and send it to the lab for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in order to confirm the diagnosis. The rash changes and goes through different stages – initially it can be a fluid-filled blistering rash that resembles chickenpox or syphilis, before finally forming a scab that later falls off.

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Monkeypox Virus Outbreak: What is Monkeypox disease? Know ... (Jagran Josh)

Monkeypox Virus Outbreak: What is Monkeypox Disease? Know about monkeypox symptoms, cases, and treatment in complete detail here. Nearly 100 monkeypox cases ...

1-5 1-5 1-5 1-5 - It is a viral zoonotic disease. As per the CDC, it is a rare disease that is caused by an infection with the monkeypox virus.

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Laboratory testing for the monkeypox virus: Interim guidance (World Health Organization)

Confirmation of monkeypox virus infection is based on nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT), using real-time or conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ...

All test results, positive or negative, should be immediately reported to national authorities and Member States are requested to immediately notify WHO under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 of positive laboratory results, including laboratory test that awaits confirmation. There is currently a multi-country outbreak of monkeypox in several regions of the world, the full extent and impact of which remains unclear. The recommended specimen type for laboratory confirmation of monkeypox is skin lesion material, including swabs of lesion surface and/or exudate, roofs from more than one lesion, or lesion crusts.

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Image courtesy of "The Star, Kenya"

Monkeypox virus outbreaks are containable - WHO (The Star, Kenya)

More than 100 cases of the virus - which causes a rash and a fever - have been confirmed in Europe, the Americas and Australia. That number is expected to rise ...

"We want to stop human-to-human transmission. That number is expected to rise still, but experts say the overall risk to the broader population is very low. •That number is expected to rise still, but experts say the overall risk to the broader population is very low.

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Image courtesy of "RFI"

France reports three cases of monkeypox virus that is spreading in ... (RFI)

French health authorities said Monday that three cases of monkeypox have been identified in the country as part of an alarming outbreak of the virus outside ...

The WHO encourages safe sexual behaviour, good hygiene and regular hand washing to limit transmission. The ECDC recommends isolation of all cases until the lesions are completely gone. The illness has been fatal in up to six percent of infections.

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Monkeypox virus outbreaks are containable: WHO (Saudi Gazette)

We can do this in the non-endemic countries," she added - referring to recent cases in Europe and North America. The virus has now been detected in 16 countries outside Africa. Despite being the largest outbreak outside of Africa in 50 years, monkeypox ...

"We want to stop human-to-human transmission. The virus is most common in remote parts of Central and West Africa. More than 100 cases of the virus - which causes a rash and a fever - have been confirmed in Europe, the Americas and Australia.

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Image courtesy of "Euronews"

Monkeypox and travel: Have any countries introduced travel ... (Euronews)

Monkeypox, a rare viral infection, is appearing in small but increasing numbers in Europe. While the disease is rarely fatal to humans, it has prompted some ...

The number of monkeypox cases in Italy has risen to four. A pride festival in the Canary Islands has also been identified as a possible source of the outbreaks. The majority of the cases in Spain have been traced to an adult sauna party in Madrid that has been identified as a superspreader event. The UK, where the outbreak was first identified, currently has 57 confirmed cases of monkeypox so far. The health service has cautioned that the virus can also be transmitted by touching the products of an infected animal. Once the fever breaks, a rash often develops which can be itchy or painful and lesions can occur on the face or genitals.

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Monkeypox outbreak is 'containable,' WHO says as it confirms more ... (CNBC)

The World Health Organization said Tuesday that a recent outbreak of monkeypox cases in non-endemic countries is "containable" even as it continues to ...

It's not the same as saying we must not act swiftly. "That's not the same as saying public health people shouldn't be worried. The cases are reportedly located in 19 countries outside of Africa. At least 19 countries including the U.S., U.K. Canada, Australia, Italy, Spain and Portugal have so far reported cases. The WHO said it was currently unclear whether the spike in cases was the "tip of the iceberg" or whether a peak in transmission had already been reached. As of Tuesday, there were 131 confirmed cases and 106 suspected cases of the disease since the first was reported on May 7, according to the public health body.

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