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Context

• Even as no case of monkeypox, which shows up as fever, body ache and very distinct skin lesions, has yet been reported in India, the Kerala Health department has sounded a general alert on the disease.
• Researchers from the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal have shared the draft genome sequence of the monkeypox virus that is rapidly spreading in many European countries.

Monkey Pox Virus

About

• Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africaand is occasionally exported to other regions.
• The first case of monkeypox in humans was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congoduring a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox.
• Scientists have so far discovered two distinct genetic groups of monkeypox virus—Central African and West African.

 

Cause

• It is caused by monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.
• Monkeypox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox. But Smallpox had a higher fatality rate than monkeypox.
• Smallpox was declared eradicated worldwide in 1980.

 

Symptoms

• Monkeypox is characterised by flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymph nodes, which gradually progresses to a widespread rash all over the face and body.

 

Transmission

• Monkeypox virus is mostly transmitted to people from wild animals such as rodents and primates, but human-to-human transmission also occurs.
• It spreads from one person to another via respiratory droplets.

 

Treatment

• There is currently no specific treatment recommended for monkeypox.
• Vaccination against smallpox was about 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.
• Thus, prior childhood smallpox vaccination may result in a milder disease course.

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