In late-July 2022, the World Health Organization declared the worldwide outbreak of monkeypox a public health emergency, the most recent declaration of this type was for the COVID-19 pandemic. Cases of monkeypox have been reported across Europe and North America since May, countries in which the virus is not endemic. Endemic in disease terms means it is continuously present in a particular geographic area or region. The WHO had classified several African countries as monkeypox endemic, such as Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria. Previous cases of monkeypox found in non-endemic regions were usually linked with travel to Central or West Africa, however many cases in the current outbreak appear to have no known connection with these areas and would suggest community transmission.
According to the WHO, symptoms include headache, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and body aches. Furthermore, a rash can develop which, after initially appearing on the face, can spread to other parts of the body. The rash can be of similar appearance to chickenpox, and then forms a scab which falls off.
What is monkeypox?
The virus which causes monkeypox originates from the same ‘family’ as smallpox. However, monkeypox is significantly less severe than smallpox. Medical experts have said most cases are mild and the virus remains not easily spread between people. Transmission occurs through close contact with an infected person, where the virus can enter through broken skin or areas such as the mouth, nose, and eyes. While monkeypox is not regarded as sexually transmitted, and so far in the latest outbreak experts have found no evidence of it being a sexually transmitted disease, the close contact during sexual activity may allow it to spread easier. Several initial cases in non-endemic regions were reported among men who have sex with men (MSM), although the explanation of this transmission was said to be most likely a coincidental introduction of monkeypox which then circulated among MSM.According to the WHO, symptoms include headache, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and body aches. Furthermore, a rash can develop which, after initially appearing on the face, can spread to other parts of the body. The rash can be of similar appearance to chickenpox, and then forms a scab which falls off.
