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Nigerians could be so dramatic at the advent of a new disease outbreak. Good mornings would suddenly be devoid of friendly handshake, every unproductive street gatherings would suddenly have a new topic of discussion and hand sanitizer would become handy as naira notes.
Then the fake hand sanitizer would sell with propensities of high profit margins

Monkey pox - what is it?

What is this disease? How did it come about? Are the above Nigerian precautionary measures enough to prevent us from contacting this disease?

Monkey pox is a communicable disease caused by monkey pod virus (an orthopox virus) which is characterized by presence of lesions on the skin of the infected person.

It can be detected by performing a RDT or microscopy to ascertain the presence of the parasite. Any modern health care centre close to you should have this facilitis.

This viral disease is closely related to smallpox but is not as deadly as smallpox was.

MONKEY POX IN AFRICA

Monkeypox is a rare disease that was detected in monkeys in Africa in the year 1958 after series of research on different animals. It was concluded by the research institute in charge of the research then that this viral infection is deadly and resembles smallpox in terms of the skin lesions with a scary appearances seen in humans as part of the physical findings and also because the cause is a virus that is closely related to the smallpox (variola) virus.

Monkeypox can be transferred from animals to people making it a zoonotic disease (or person to person) and has far less mortality (death rate) than smallpox had. Monkeypox virus is endemic in rodent populations in Africa.

TRANSMISSION OF THE DISEASE

The major cases of transmission in Africa is from animals (rodents) to humans by direct contact. Or through the consumption of infected animals.

Africans are well known to consume varieties of bush meats because of their beliefs and also because it is customary to the geographical region.

Risk factors for monkeypox include close association with animals (usually rodents) that have the disease or caring for a patient who has the vital disease.

SYMPTOMS

In humans, the symptoms of monkeypox are similar to that if small pox but milder than the symptoms of smallpox. Monkeypox begins with a wide range of illnesses and unusual feelings which begins to manifest in the body systems of the infected person.

The illness begins with:
1)Fever
2)Headache
3)Muscle aches
4)Backache
5)Swollen lymph nodes
6)Chills
7)Exhaustion

Within 1 to 5 days (sometimes longer) after the patient starts to feel feverish, the patient develops a rash, which starts on the face then spreads to other parts of the body.

Lesions progress through the following stages before finally falling off:

Macules
Papules
Vesicles
Pustules
Scabs

The sickness typically lasts for about 2−5weeks. In Africa, monkeypox has been shown to cause death in as many as 1 in 10 persons who contract the disease

HOW IS THE DISEASE DIAGNOSED?

The diagnosis of monkey pox is often made clinically using patient’s history and the examination that shows the pox lesions. The confirmatory diagnosis will be done by laboratory tests through PCR, ELISA or western blotting tests that are usually done in advanced laboratories which are not too common in some geographical areas. The virus can be isolated by cell culture which can only be done also in an advanced laboratories.

I believe in the saying that prevention is better than cure, and that is what will make me go to the next topic which is preventing the disease

PREVENTION METHODS

The best preventive method is to avoid contact with animals, most especially rodents and monkeys and stop the consumption of bush meats

Avoid contact with materials, such as bedding, that has been used by or for a sick animal and infected patients.

Practice good hand hygiene after contact with infected animals or humans. For example, washing your hands with soap and water or using a methylated spirit or hand sanitizer.

Also use personal protective equipments or gadgets when caring for patients.

CAN IT CAUSE DEATH?

Severe cases occur more commonly among little children and are related to the extent of exposure to the virus, patient's health status and severity of complications. The disease can surely lead to death. The case fatality rate varies widely but has been less than 10 per cent in documented epidemics and deaths are mostly among the young ones.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR THE DISEASE

without deception, it's good be made known and clear that there are no specific treatments or vaccines available for monkey pox infection but outbreaks can be controlled. The symptoms can however be treated.

For more reading visit

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