Something new to worry about: Monkeypox: Researchers are keeping a close eye on what appears to be a rapidly developing global outbreak of Monkeypox virus. The monkeypox virus is a member of the family Poxviridae and the genus Orthopoxvirus, which includes variola (the virus that causes smallpox), vaccinia (which is used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox virus.
As of Friday, May 20, cases have been confirmed or are under investigation in the U.S. (Massachusetts and New York), U.K., Spain, Portugal, France, Canada, Sweden, and Italy.
The fact that not all the individuals infected traveled to West or Central Africa, where the disease is more common and mainly jumps to people though contact with animals, suggests that the virus may be spreading under the radar.
While this has given epidemiologists pause, there's no proof yet that the virus has changed to become more transmissible. Much of the transmission so far has occurred among men who have sex with men, but that certainly doesn't mean it's limited to that community.
Generally, Monkeypox is not easily spread between humans. According to the CDC, human-to-human transmission is thought to primarily occur through large respiratory droplets.
Other means of transmission include direct contact with body fluids or lesions, and indirect contact with lesion material through contaminated clothing or bedding, also known as fomites.
The CDC says the typical incubation period for Monkeypox is 7 to 14 days, but can range from 5 to 21 days. Among the first symptoms to appear are flu-like symptoms, including fever, aches, and fatigue. Monkeypox infection also involves swelling of the lymph nodes.
Then, typically 1 to 3 days later -- though sometimes longer -- a rash develops, according to the CDC. It often starts on the face before spreading to other parts of the body.
Illness typically lasts about 2 to 4 weeks.
The Congo Basin strain of Monkeypox is thought to have a fatality rate of 10%, while the West African strain -- which was confirmed in the U.K. outbreak -- has a fatality rate of about 1%.
According to the CDC, there's no proven treatment for Monkeypox specifically, but the smallpox vaccine, antivirals, and vaccinia immune globulin can be used. The smallpox vaccine Jynneos (also known as Imvamune or Imvanex) is indicated for Monkeypox as well. It's an attenuated, live-virus vaccine incapable of replicating in the human body.
The federal government also reportedly has a stockpile of other smallpox virus vaccines that can be used. The U.S. government stopped its smallpox vaccination program in 1972, but it's thought that people who received the vaccine likely still have some immunity. Another drug, tecovirimat (Tpoxx), is FDA approved for treating smallpox in an oral and now intravenous form. In the EU, tecovirimat is also indicated for Monkeypox.
Until Next Time Stay Safe and Stay Healthy.
James A Vito, D.M.D.