There’s no need be over-alarmed about news from UK of a single monkeypox case there. The skin condition was first noted in macaque monkeys in Africa in 1958. Monkeypox is not another coronavirus. It does not spread easily between people, and smallpox vaccine largely prevents it. We just have to be careful being near a person who has it.
NOT Another Coronavirus BUT Monkeypox is Unpleasant
There’s unfortunately no cure for this unpleasant skin condition that’s akin to a milder version of smallpox. The skin infections that develop are painful, but usually self-heal within five weeks.
We reaffirm there is no cure other than time, but there are very few reports of fatalities. However, we still need to consult a physician or clinic if we suspect we may have it, and self-isolate.
The infection typically takes around 10 days to develop. It initially presents symptoms of fever, headache, muscle pains, swollen lymph nodes, and feeling tired. An itchy rash of separate blisters follows, looking something like bubble wrapping. These blisters crust into scabs that are painful, but fall away after several weeks.
The Origin of Monkeypox Virus and the UK Event
Doctors first observed the condition in laboratory macaque monkeys in 1958. These have cognitive and sensory repertoires that more closely resemble those of humans, than other animal models.
Their genomes overlap humans by 93.8%, suggesting viral diseases could travel between them. The first known human cases were in 1970 in Democratic Republic Congo. The UK monkeypox incident involves a single person who recently travelled from Nigeria most likely with the infection.
The monkeypox virus may jump to humans while they are handling bush meat. It is present in macaque monkeys, Gambian pouched rats, dormice, and African squirrels. It can spread between humans through physical contact, shared utensils, or even airborne transmission. The rash is usually only present on the trunk, but it may spread to the palms and soles of the feet.
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