CDC monitors more than 200 people potentially exposed to monkey pox

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring more than 200 people who may have been exposed to the monkeypox virus.

On July 15, 2021, the CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed a case of human monkeypox in the United States. The man, who is said to be the first case of monkeypox in the country since 2003, contracted the disease in Nigeria during a visit. He was taken to hospital but is in stable condition.

To date, there are no new cases linked to infection with monkeypox.

Monkey pox virus is an orthopoxvirus of the same group of viruses as smallpox. Image Credit: nobeastsofierce / Shutterstock.com

What the CDC does

Lab test results at the CDC showed the case was a strain of monkeypox reported in parts of West Africa, including Nigeria. Although human-to-human transmission is rare, infections with the strain are potentially fatal in about one in 100 people who are infected.

People with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of serious illness and even death from monkey pox.

Health officials are now working with the airline and state health officials to contact and assess the potential risks to airline passengers and others who may have been in contact with the patient during the trip. two flights – Lagos, Nigeria to Atlanta on July 8 and Atlanta to Dallas on July 8. July 9th.

The CDC has confirmed that it will conduct a full contact tracing to determine potential carriers. Contact tracing will continue until the end of the month, including follow-ups and health checks with those already identified and informed. Overall, health officials are looking for people from 27 states for possible exposure.

In addition, the CDC has set up a call center for health services to speed up contact tracing of potentially exposed carriers. Doctors may also contact the CDC if monkey pox is suspected in a patient.

What is monkey pox?

Monkey pox is a contagious disease caused by the monkey pox virus which can infect both animals and humans. Monkey pox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus gender in the family Poxviridae. the Orthopoxvirus The genus also includes other viruses such as variola virus, the pathogen responsible for smallpox, vaccinia virus, which has been used in smallpox vaccine, and cowpox virus.

First discovered in 1958, monkey pox has caused two outbreaks of smallpox-like disease in colonies of monkeys kept for research. The first human case was reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during a large-scale smallpox eradication effort. Since then, episodes of monkey pox have been reported in countries in Central and West Africa.

Infection is so rare that human monkeypox infections have been reported six times outside of Africa in history. These include 47 cases in the United States in 2003, three cases in the United Kingdom and one case in Israel in 2018, one case in Singapore in 2019, and three cases in the United Kingdom and one case in the United States in 2021. .

How is it spread?

Monkey pox can be spread through handling bushmeat, close contact with an infected person, animal bite or scratch, contact with lesions, respiratory droplets , bodily fluids and contaminated materials such as bedding.

On exposure, it may take up to 10 days for signs and symptoms to appear, including fever, headache, muscle pain, inflamed lymph nodes, and fatigue. This is followed by a rash which forms blisters and scabs. These symptoms can last for about two to five weeks.

In Africa, monkey pox has been shown to kill 1 in 10 people who become infected.

How to prevent monkey pox?

Basic infection control measures can help reduce the risk of contracting the monkey pox virus. To prevent infection, avoid contact with animals that may harbor the virus, especially those sick or found dead in areas where monkey pox occurs.

Also avoid touching materials that have been in contact with a sick animal, such as bedding. For people who may have been infected, isolation is crucial to prevent further spread of the virus. In addition, regular hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) can help prevent infections when caring for sick patients.