The World Health Organization’s (WHO) health experts have explained the risk factors associated with Monkeypox as the virus spreads globally.
This comes after WHO received reports of 257 confirmed monkeypox cases and approximately 120 suspected cases in 23 countries.
The infection log was topped by the United Kingdom, which had 106 cases, followed by Portugal and Canada, which had 49 and 26 cases, respectively.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 12 cases in eight states in the United States.
The WHO reported 1,365 cases and 69 deaths caused by the virus in five African countries. These illnesses were reported throughout the year, from mid-December to late May.
Rosamund Lewis, WHO Technical Lead for Monkeypox, said during a Facebook live session on Monday, May 30, that close contact with monkeypox patients is the most significant risk factor for monkeypox virus infection, and that the virus is spreading to older populations, even in endemic areas.
She added that steps should be taken to prevent the virus from spreading further before it reaches more vulnerable people and replaces smallpox in the general population.
“Health workers, doctors, nurses and health authorities, governments need to realise this is something they need to work on. Get tested, train health workers and raise awareness, so that the cases that are occurring can be detected quickly and so that transmission and for the spread can be stopped, that is the objective,” she said
Speaking on the kind of symptoms people should be aware of, the WHO Advisor on HIV, Hepatitis, and STI programmes, Andy Seale, said the critical thing that people need to do is really lookout for any unusual rash, sudden onset of fever, or swelling in lymph nodes.
“And of course, be conscious of your own social networks. If you hear from a previous or current partner, whether it’s a social partner or somebody that you’ve had a sexual relationship with, that they’re either unwell, take extra care and seek health advice,” he added.
Similarly, to an explainer on the WHO website, the incubation period of monkeypox, which is the interval from infection to onset of symptoms is usually from 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days.
The global health body says the infection can be divided into invasion period and skin eruption.
It said; “The invasion period lasts between 0 to 5 days and is characterized by fever, intense headache, lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph nodes), back pain, myalgia (muscle aches), and intense asthenia (lack of energy).
“While the skin eruption usually begins within 1 to 3 days of the appearance of fever. It mostly affects the face in 95 per cent of cases, and palms of the hands and soles of the feet in 75 per cent of cases.”