Monkeypox Misinformation Is Spreading, Experts Warn—Here’s What You Need To Know About The Disease

So what is monkeypox? Monkeypox is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus, a less virulent and less contagious relative of one of humanity’s greatest killers, smallpox, which causes smallpox.

Is it new? Unlike Covid, monkeypox is a well-known disease that has caused sporadic outbreaks in parts of Africa for decades, although it has been largely ignored by the rest of the world.

What are the symptoms of monkeypox? Monkeypox can cause flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, chills, and swollen lymph nodes, and most people develop a distinct rash, although the extent of this can vary, and clinicians report symptoms that are milder or more localized to genital and anorectal areas. than previously expected, and some people had no symptoms at all.

How serious is this? Most people recover from the illness on their own within a few weeks, although the illness can be fatal, and some patients require hospital treatment for symptoms, especially severe pain caused by monkeypox lesions.

Where does monkeypox come from? Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease, meaning it circulates naturally among wildlife and is only occasionally transmitted to humans, and despite its name, experts have not found an animal reservoir for the virus, although many believe rodents are the most likely culprit.

So this has nothing to do with monkeys? Other than the ability to infect them, monkeypox has little to do with monkeys – it was first discovered in laboratory monkeys in the 1950s – and the World Health Organization has stressed that primates are not involved in the current outbreak.

How is monkeypox spread? Historically, humans commonly contracted monkeypox after contact with infected animals, but the virus can also be spread among humans, primarily through close physical contact with an infected person or contaminated objects such as clothing or bed linen, or through airborne droplets produced when a person coughs, talks or sneezes. .

What is driving the global outbreak? The vast majority of those affected by the global outbreak are men who have sex with men, and evidence strongly suggests that the main mode of transmission is through sexual contact, possibly through sex itself—both oral and anal intercourse—rather than skin contact. contact. contact accompanying sex.

Can monkeypox spread to other groups? The growing outbreak has raised concerns that the virus may take hold in other populations, especially women and children, but although there have been a small number of cases outside of men, there is no evidence of sustained transmission outside of sexual intercourse to justify concern about the virus among most people. and experts believe the risk to other groups is low.

Are we missing opportunities by focusing on men? The focus on gay and bisexual men, as well as initial testing restrictions, have sparked a flurry of misinformation suggesting the virus is undiagnosed and spreading unnoticed to women and children, although officials dispute that and say they are testing, they just don’t see many positive tests.

Is there a cure for monkeypox? There is no proven cure for monkeypox, but an antiviral drug developed to treat smallpox – tecovirimate, also known by the brand name Tpoxx – is available for some monkeypox patients, and scientists are testing whether it can help people recover from the disease faster.

Is there a vaccine? Bavarian Nordic’s Jynneos, sold as Imvanex in Europe and Imvanune in Canada, is the only vaccine specifically approved for use against monkeypox in the world, although there is no evidence of efficacy and global supply is severely limited.

How can I get vaccinated? Vaccine shortages mean vaccines are difficult to obtain in most areas, if at all, and most jurisdictions direct supplies to high-risk groups such as men or transgender people who have sex with men or close contacts of people diagnosed with monkeypox, as well as changing the injection method to stretching.

What about other vaccines? A live virus vaccine developed for use against smallpox, ACAM2000, can also be used to control monkeypox and is plentiful, although officials have yet to introduce it due to the risk of serious side effects and unsuitability for people with weakened immune systems. a notable disadvantage for a campaign targeting a group disproportionately affected by HIV.

Does the smallpox vaccine protect me from monkeypox? Many people have already been vaccinated against smallpox as part of routine immunization—the disease was eradicated in 1980—which could provide some protection against monkeypox, but it wanes over time, and it’s not clear if the vaccine will protect against infection, although it can. still warn against serious illnesses.

How to protect yourself? Officials are recommending that all at-risk people get vaccinated — although it’s unclear how protective the shots will be and stocks are short — and for gay and bisexual men to limit sexual risk behaviors, in particular to reduce the number of sexual partners, especially anonymous or group partners. . meetings that the data shows are already taking place.