Monkey Smallpox: Symptoms and Ways to Prevent This Disease

Monkey pox has become a public concern since the discovery of this disease case in Singapore. Because the location of Singapore is close to Indonesia, the Indonesian government also calls on the public to be vigilant and maintain cleanliness to prevent transmission of this disease.

Monkey monkey or monkeypox is a rare infectious disease caused by the virus monkeypox from the Orthopoxvirus. Monkeypox first was discovered in 1958, where there were two outbreaks of smallpox-like diseases that occurred in groups of monkeys that were kept for research. That is why this disease is then named ke monkeypox .

In 1970, the case of monkeypox was first found in humans in Congo, Africa. Since then, monkeypox has reportedly attacked humans and has become an endemic disease in several African countries, especially Central Africa and West Africa. Outside Africa, monkepox infections were discovered in 2003 in the United States, and in 2018 in Britain and Israel.

Transmission of Monkey Smallpox

The monkeypox virus can be transmitted through contact with infected animals or humans. Viruses can enter the body through the respiratory tract or wounds on the skin.

This virus is generally carried by animals, such as mice, squirrels, monkeys, rabbits, dogs, and porcupines. Consumption of wild animal meat is also one of the ways to transmit the monkeypox virus from animals to humans.

The outbreak of monkey smallpox that has occurred in Africa has to do with hunting, skinning, cooking, and consuming rat meat and the meat of infected monkeys.

Symptoms of Monkey Smallpox

A person can show symptoms of monkey pox in about 1-2 weeks after the virus enters his body. Some of the symptoms of monkey pox are:

• Fever is shivering
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Lemas
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Sore throat

After 1-3 days of fever, a rash appears on the skin similar to chickenpox, which is redness, resilience filled with clear liquid, pus-filled with pus, or nodules. The rash usually arises from the face to spread throughout the body.

Monkey Smallpox Treatment and Prevention

So far there is no specific treatment for monkey smallpox. Patients will usually heal themselves within 2-4 weeks after getting this disease.

The treatment given so far is only to reduce symptoms. Although the symptoms of monkey pox are generally not too heavy, you should be treated in a hospital. In some cases, monkey pox can experience worsening conditions, cause complications, and even cause death. However, this rarely happens.

Until now, there is no specific vaccine to prevent monkey pox. Maintaining personal hygiene and the environment is one important step to reduce the risk of contracting this disease.

Here are some ways you can prevent monkey pox:

• Avoid contact with animals suspected of being infected with monkey pox .
• Avoid consumption of wild animal meat and uncooked meat.
• Caring for and isolating monkey smallpox sufferers until they are declared cured.
• Implement clean and healthy lifestyle, for example by diligently washing your hands using water and soap.
• Use personal protective equipment, such as gloves and masks, when close to monkey smallpox sufferers.
• Avoid traveling to regions or countries with a high number of cases of monkey pox.

Prevention of monkey pox is the most important step to avoid the spread of this disease. If you have been exposed to monkey pox, the patient needs to be treated by a doctor in the hospital so that the condition can be monitored. It also aims to prevent transmission of monkey pox to others.

Written by:

dr. Dina Kusumawardhani

Label : Health cat_Health