Monkeypox: An International Concern?

BY NHI VUONG

The CDC has recently declared the monkeypox situation a public health emergency. 

Here’s everything you need to know.

What is Monkeypox? –

Monkeypox is a disease caused by infection. Being a zoonotic illness, it may spread to both humans and animals. It is similar to smallpox, causing rashes and other symptoms. This virus has been detected in monkeys, rodents, and other mammals. Monkeypox also has a fatality rate between 3% and 5%, which is considerably higher than COVID-19. 

Different Types –

Monkeypox comes in two types: clade I and clade II.

• With a higher fatality rate, Clade I causes more severe illness.

Although the death rate of this kind of monkeypox has decreased in recent incidents, newer outbreaks have killed up to 10% of victims. Clade I is found most often in Central Africa. 

• The global outbreak that started in 2022 was caused by Clade II. Clade II monkeypox infections are not as severe. More than 99.9% of these cases have been cured.

Treatments –

There are currently no approved treatments specifically for monkeypox infections, according to the Center for Disease Control, or CDC. However, there have been two vaccines that are currently approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization, or WHO.

 Cites – 

https://theweek.com/https://www.ajmc.com/https://news.un.orghttps://www.cdc.gov/