Mpox - What is the hype?

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Mpox, earlier known as monkeypox (because it was originally discovered in monkeys kept for research in 1958, Denmark) is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). It is a DNA virus that belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus, Poxviridae family (also includes - variola virus: cause of Smallpox, vaccinia virus, and cowpox virus). The initial symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, body pain, and swollen lymph nodes, followed by a rash of lesions on the skin. The incubation period for Mpox is 7-14 days i.e. symptoms begin to appear 7-14 days after exposure. Transmission occurs through contact with an infected person. This includes direct contact with body fluids, and lesions, prolonged face-to-face contact including sexual contact, and indirect contact with contaminated clothing and bedding. Transmission can also occur through infected animals, i.e. hunting, cooking, handling, etc.  People with compromised immune systems are at higher risk for contracting Mpox.

Treatment for Mpox includes supportive treatment for fever, pain, and fatigue with special emphasis on hydration, nutrition, skincare, and prevention of secondary infections. There are vaccines available for Mpox for people who are at high risk of acquiring Mpox. Earlier cases of Mpox were limited to Central, East, and West Africa but in 2022 a global outbreak began that continues to this day. In 2022 May and 2024 August, the WHO declared Mpox as a PHEIC (Public health emergency of International Concern).
Mpox is hopefully not the next COVID-19, as COVID-19 was caused by an RNA virus that transmits easily through the air and mutates faster. Mpox is caused by a DNA virus and requires prolonged human-to-human contact for transmission.

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