The World Health Organization has declared Mpox, an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, aglobal health emergencyfollowing a surge of cases in Africa The declaration followsMpox outbreaks in 12 African nations,including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Central African Republic and other nations
Mpox, also known asmonkeypox, is an infectious disease triggered by the monkeypox virus, a member of theOrthopoxvirus genus The virus is capable of causing a painful rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes While most individuals recover completely, a minority may experience severe illness
Mpox can affect anyone and is transmitted through contact with infected individuals, animals, or contaminated objects Mpox comes in two distinct types:Clade I,which was previously known as the Congo Basin Clade, andClade II, which was formerly known as the West African Clade Clade I — Clade I mpox is the more severe disease It’s more contagious than its counterpart and causes more severe illness and death
Clade II — Clade II is less severe The transmission of Mpox between humans can occur via:
Additionally,certain animals, including squirrels and monkeys,may transmit Mpox to humans under specific circumstances Symptoms of Mpox typically manifest within one to three weeks post-exposure Commonly observed symptoms include:
The primary diagnostic method isPolymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing,which detects the virus’s genetic material in samples taken from skin lesions.
Source: Factcheckzw
