MONKEY POX

Edited by, VAISHNAVI

The centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed and proposed on July 15, 2021 about a case of human monkey pox in U.S. who recently travelled from Nigeria to U.S.

The person is currently hospitalized in Dallas. CDC is contacting airline passengers and others who may had been in contact with the patient during the flight travel and in airport.

Travelers on the flights were instructed to wear masks mandatorily during their travel and also in the airports due to risk of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it is believed that the spread of monkey pox via droplets to others on the planes and in the airports will be reduced.

Monkey pox is a rare but potentially serious viral illness which occurs mostly in the remote areas of Africa, according to WHO.

The virus lives in animals, including primates and rodents, but it can sometimes "jump" from animals to people.

The virus spreads from person to person mainly via respiratory droplets, which can enter the body through mucous membranes in the eyes, mouth and nose. Additionally, monkey pox can also be transmitted if a person has contact with lesions or body fluids of infected persons or indirectly from contact with contaminated clothing.

Monkey pox typically begins with flu-like illness and swelling of the lymph nodes and progresses to a widespread rash on face and body. Most infections lasts for 2-4 weeks.

Monkey pox is from the same family as small pox but it causes a milder infection.

This infection is fatal in about 1 in 100 people. However, rates may be higher in people with less or weakened immunity.