During this day the cases of “Monkey Pox”, as it has become known, began to spread massively in several European countries. Although the disease has not yet registered deaths, it is important to know its first signs and identify those who are more likely to acquire it.
This day the outbreak of “Monkeypox” which affects -at least- three countries in Europe. Portugal, the United Kingdom and Spain already register at least a dozen cases, while more than 20 are still under investigation.
According to World Health Organizationit is a disease “rare occurring mainly in remote areas of central and western Africa, near tropical forests”.
Transmission occurs when there is direct contact with blood, body fluids, skin lesions or mucous membranes of infected animalsexplains the WHO.
Meanwhile, person-to-person transmission occurs through close contact with infected secretions from the respiratory tract or with skin lesions from a contaminated personeven with recently contaminated objects, fluids from the patient or injurydetails the organization.
What are the symptoms of “Monkeypox”?
The incubation period, that is, the period between when the infection was contracted and the first symptoms of the virus appear, occurs between 6 to 16 daysalthough it can also vary between 5 to 12 days.
Between day 0 to 5 you can present fever, severe headache, swollen lymph nodes, lower back pain, lack of energy, and muscle pain.
Then, since the fever begins (1 to 3 days from the appearance of this symptom), skin rash begins characteristic of smallpox, which affects mostly the face and then the rest of the body.
These lesions can appear even in the genital area, mouth and eyesalthough after three weeks scabs that form on rashes usually clear up on their own.
Who is most at risk of becoming infected?
According to information provided by the WHO, although there is no cure for this variety, the vaccine manufactured smallpox to treat classic smallpox works in 85% of caseshence those who do not have this vaccine are at greater risk of developing serious illness.
Meanwhile, according to information provided by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the confirmed cases so far in the aforementioned country correspond entirely to mens.
More specifically, “men who identify themselves as homosexual or bisexual”, that is, who “have sexual relations with other men”detailed the government agency.
According to the latest report delivered by the British country, in the last hours the confirmed cases rose to nineconsigned EFE.