Is Monkey Pox Dangerous? All You Need to Know
Monkeypox is an extremely rare viral disease that is closely related to smallpox, even though it doesn’t cause the same type of blisters that smallpox does. It was first discovered in 1958 and has only been reported several times since then, mostly in central Africa in infected monkeys, though there have been at least two cases involving humans living in the US in 2003 and 2014.
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What is monkey pox?
People can get monkey pox by being bitten by an infected animal. The virus is found in animals such as prairie dogs, squirrels, other small rodents and monkeys. There are no known cases of people getting monkey pox through casual contact with an infected person. Most people who get monkey pox never know they have it because they don’t develop any symptoms or they think they have something else.
Signs and symptoms of monkey pox
It’s easy to confuse monkey pox with smallpox. But while they share many of the same symptoms, like fever and headache, monkey pox has a few distinctive signs you should watch out for. Small red bumps on your skin that develop into sores are one symptom of monkey pox. The bumps will likely appear around your mouth, face, arms or legs after an incubation period of 3-12 days (smallpox usually takes 7-10 days). These sores will then scab over within 10-14 days before healing completely. If you think you might have contracted monkey pox, it’s important to see a doctor right away—the disease can be fatal if left untreated.
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How do you get infected with monkey pox?
The only way to get infected with monkey pox is by being in close contact with an infected individual. It is not spread through coughs and sneezes, or other more traditional methods of transmitting illness. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that there are no confirmed cases of a human contracting monkey pox through casual contact at this time. Research on how humans catch monkey pox is ongoing, so it’s hard to say for sure if casual contact could lead to infection.
Treatment options for monkey pox
Although there is no specific treatment available for monkey pox, doctors will attempt to relieve symptoms, as they would with any other type of rash. Treatment may include painkillers, antibiotics and antihistamines to reduce itching and swelling. Because it’s a viral infection, there are also antiviral medications that can be used to treat symptoms and lower your risk of developing complications such as pneumonia or hepatitis B (HBV). Anyone who has been diagnosed with monkey pox should stay away from others until their doctor gives them permission to return to work or school. This helps prevent spreading it further while they recover.
Prevention strategies for monkey pox
Although there’s no specific way to prevent monkey pox, there are some basic precautions you can take. If you’re traveling in an area where monkey pox is prevalent, use latex gloves when handling bush meat and avoid contact with infected animals or humans. After your trip, it might be a good idea to get a blood test for monkey pox antibodies—you can request one from your local public health department. Even if you have these antibodies, however, that doesn’t mean you definitely have monkey pox; having these antibodies could simply mean that you were exposed to monkey pox at some point. The only way to know for sure is by getting a skin biopsy.