Monkeypox enjoys a certain prominence caused by the detection of several cases in European countries such as the United Kingdom, Portugal or Spain.
It is a disease reminiscent of the ancient smallpox, eradicated from the world more than forty years ago, but with much milder effects. It occurs in animals and humans, although in recent years very few cases have been detected and patients are normally cured in about three months. Outbreaks detected since 1970 have almost always originated in Africa and have had low mortality.
But, although the infection does not usually have serious effects, it is normal for many people to wonder how they can know if they have been infected. Knowing the symptoms helps identify a possible infection. They are similar to those of smallpox, but with a much lower level of severity, and can be confused with those generated by other diseases. The first signs of the onset of monkeypox are fever, headache, and general muscle aches throughout the body.
The most visible symptom takes between one and three days to appear and does so in the form of skin rashes, usually on the face. Rashes subsequently arise on other parts of the body, especially the extremities.
The main way to get infected is through contact with wild animals. Between people, it does not seem that the contagion rate is very high. Transmission occurs through the exchange of bodily fluids caused, for example, by having sexual relations with an infected person. Infection is very unlikely to occur through indirect contact, by coming into contact with the saliva of an infected person or by sharing a glass or touching a surface on which debris has remained.
There is no specific treatment for this pathology, although some antivirals can help limit the intensity of the symptoms. There is also no vaccine, although the smallpox vaccine seems to provide protection of up to 80% against this variant. In any case, it has not been administered since 1980 when the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared that smallpox was eradicated from the world.
Since it was discovered, monkeypox has had low mortality rates and in most cases has required a period of two to three weeks for its symptoms to disappear. The vast majority of patients have been detected over the years in African countries such as Nigeria, Cameroon or Ivory Coast. The cause of this disease is a virus similar in nature to smallpox and owes its name to the fact that it was originally discovered in monkeys in the late 1950s. The first case in humans was not discovered until 1970.