Monkey Pox - how worried should we be?

Is there a real danger from monkeypox?

Monkeypox is not an unknown virus, unlike Covid-19, the first case in a human was seen in 1970. Currently, there is no need to worry, it is a very difficult virus to catch and one study (Bull World Health Organ. 1988; 66(4): 465–470.) shows that only 3% of close contacts will become infected. However, this is an unusual and unprecedented monkeypox outbreak. It has taken scientists who specialise in the disease by complete surprise and it is always a concern when a virus changes its behaviour and so we need to monitor the situation.

The WHO have said that this is a containable situation, and we can stop the human-human transmission. It warned there was an urgent need to raise awareness and improve care, isolation and contact tracing for confirmed cases – but stressed there was no cause for panic.

Are we vaccinated or can we get vaccinated?

We are not vaccinated but there is currently one vaccine available. Unlike Covid , Monkey Pox is not easily as contagious and no government is on alert to vaccinate their population as present. There is a Danish company that has the vaccine called Jynneos and the FDA approved it in 2019.

How easy is it to catch?

Monkeypox does not spread easily between people.

Spread of monkeypox may occur when a person comes into close contact with an infected animal (rodents are believed to be the primary animal reservoir for transmission to humans), human, or materials contaminated with the virus.

The virus enters the body through broken skin (even if not visible), the respiratory tract, or the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth). Person-to-person spread is uncommon, but may occur through:

• contact with clothing or linens (such as bedding or towels) used by an infected person

• direct contact with monkeypox skin lesions or scabs

• coughing or sneezing of an individual with a monkeypox ras

What are the symptoms?

If you get infected with monkeypox, it usually takes between 5 and 21 days for the first symptoms to appear.

The first symptoms of monkeypox include:

• a high temperature

• a headache

• muscle aches

• backache

• swollen glands

• shivering (chills)

• exhaustion

• A rash usually appears 1 to 5 days after the first symptoms. The rash often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body.

How long does it last and will there be any scars from the lesions?

The symptoms usually clear up in 2 to 4 weeks. The rash is sometimes confused with chickenpox. It starts as raised spots, which turn into small blisters filled with fluid. These blisters eventually form scabs which later fall off. The scares would depend on the healing process of your skin type but in most cases they would leave marks.

What are the treatments if any that are available?

There’s currently no proven, safe treatment available for monkeypox. Antiviral drugs may help, but they haven’t been studied as a treatment for monkeypox. Instead, your healthcare provider will monitor your condition and try to relieve your symptoms. Most people get better on their own without treatment.

So far there have been no deaths from this Monkeypox outbreak. Mortality has been estimated to be 1 to 10 percent, depending on the strain. Thankfully, the strain identified in the UK cases has been associated with a lower mortality rate, about one percent. It is important to note, this mortality rate is based on the cases seen in Western and Central Africa where the healthcare is not optimal.

Does it really come from monkeys?

In 1958, the first cases were discovered amongst a colony of monkeys, hence the name ‘monkey pox’ but it is not necessarily derived from the monkeys themselves.

Should I be worried about sending my kids to school now that there is a case in UAE?

Certainly not. As mentioned above it is not contagious or easily spread between people.

CORNERSTONE CLINIC Dr. Ruhil Badiani MBBS, BSc RadSci, MRCGP, DRCOG