MONKEYPOX

• Monkeypox is caused by a virus, which belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox, although it is much less severe and chances of infection are low.
• It occurs mostly in remote parts of central and west African countries, near tropical rain forests.
• There are two main strains of the virus- west African and central African, which are generally mild.

• Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, swellings, back pain, and muscle aches.
• A rash may develop once the fever breaks, often beginning on the face, and then spreading to other parts of the body, mostly to the palms and soles of limbs.
• The rash can be extremely itchy or painful and undergoes different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.
• The lesions can cause scarring.
• The infection usually clears up on its own and lasts between 14 to 21 days.

• Monkeypox can be spread when someone is in close contact with an infected person.
• The virus enters through broken skin, the respiratory tract or the eyes, nose or mouth.
• There is no evidence of sexual transmission, but it can be passed on by direct contact during sex.
• It can also be spread by contact with infected animals like monkeys, rats and squirrels, or by virus-contaminated objects, such as bedding and clothing.

• There is no specific reason for this unexpected outbreak.
• One possibility is that the virus has changed in some way, although there is little evidence to suggest this new variant.
• The virus might have found itself in the right place at the right time to thrive.