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Monkeypox: history, contagion, spread, symptoms, vaccination protection

2022-06-10T10:07:04.512Z


Monkeypox: history, contagion, spread, symptoms, vaccination protection Created: 06/10/2022 11:56 am By: Natalie Hull Drawbar The number of cases is increasing worldwide: What is monkeypox, how is the virus transmitted, what are the symptoms, is there a vaccine? 1 / 10What is monkeypox? These are viruses of the Orthopoxvirus genus, so-called Orthopoxvirus simiae or also called Monkeypox virus


Monkeypox: history, contagion, spread, symptoms, vaccination protection

Created: 06/10/2022 11:56 am

By: Natalie Hull Drawbar

The number of cases is increasing worldwide: What is monkeypox, how is the virus transmitted, what are the symptoms, is there a vaccine?

1 / 10What is monkeypox?

These are viruses of the Orthopoxvirus genus, so-called Orthopoxvirus simiae or also called Monkeypox virus (MPXV) - shown in the picture as an ultra-thin section electron micrograph from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

© Freya Kaulbars/RKI/dpa

2 / 10Why is the virus called monkeypox, do monkeys transmit it?

The disease caused by the virus was first observed in 1958 in cynomolgus monkeys - pictured is a specimen from the Bako National Park in Borneo, Malaysia - with smallpox-like symptoms, which is why the name "monkeypox" came about.

(Iconic image) © imageBROKER/JustusxdexCuveland/Imago

3 / 10 That is, monkeypox is not originally transmitted by monkeys.

In fact, the actual vectors are rodents in West and Central Africa, most notably Thomas' redshank squirrels - as seen here, a redshank squirrel (Funisciurus pyrropus leonis) in Sierra Leone.

© imagebroker/Imago

4 / 10In the spring of 2003, monkeypox was first detected in humans outside of Africa, the continent of origin of the virus.

The cause was identified as the import of rodents from Ghana to the USA, and the disease was transmitted via infected prairie dogs - as shown in the picture - to animal dealers, according to the RKI.

(Iconic image) © IMAGO/Steffen Unger

5 / 10In endemic areas, the monkeypox virus can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents—such as the black-tailed prairie dog pictured—via bites, secretions, urine, and feces.

(Iconic image) © Hohlfeld/Imago

6 / 10 Transmission from person to person can occur via open smallpox, so-called smallpox lesions - on the left in the picture on the arm of the affected person.

The contents of the vesicle have a particularly high concentration of viruses.

Wounds in the mouth can also be contagious, which means that the monkeypox virus can in principle also be transmitted via the saliva.

© picture alliance/dpa/CDC

7 / 10What does monkeypox look like?

What are the typical symptoms?

After an incubation period of about five to 21 days, the first symptoms such as fever and muscle pain appear, followed by the typical skin changes of the pustules - like that of a patient from 1997, shown here in the picture.

The symptoms appear primarily on the palms of the hands, face and soles of the feet, but also in the mouth and genitals.

© picture alliance/dpa/CDC/Brian WJ Mahy

8 / 10Monkeypox resembles the secretion-filled blisters of chickenpox.

Before the blisters appear, knots form in the skin.

© Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp/dpa

9 / 10According to the RKI, cases of monkeypox with the typical skin lesions, see figure, have now been reported from more than eight German federal states (as of June 3, 2022).

One reason why the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) is now officially in favor of vaccination for risk groups aged 18 and over.

A smallpox vaccine (“Imvanex”) has been approved in the EU since 2013.

© UKHSA/dpa

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10 / 10The German government has already ordered the vaccine "Imvanex" from Bavarian Nordic.

According to the Federal Minister of Health, Dr.

Karl Lauterbach (59, SPD) – seen here with Prof. Dr.

dr

hc mult.

Lothar H. Wieler (61), President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) at a press conference on the current status of the monkeypox epidemic - around 40,000 vaccine doses could still be delivered in June and another 200,000 in the course of the second half of the year.

© Chris Emil Janssen/Imago

Berlin – After the unusual accumulation of monkeypox infections in numerous European countries, the Standing Vaccination Committee (STIKO) of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has officially spoken out in favor of vaccination for people who are at increased risk of infection (as of May 9th. 2022).

Monkeypox: who is affected by the viral infection?

How can you protect yourself?

According to current information from the Robert Koch Institute, 131 monkeypox infections have been registered so far, currently only in men.

In the EU, a smallpox vaccine "Imvanex" has been approved since 2013, which can also be used to protect against monkeypox, according to the Standing Vaccination Commission.

"In order to combat the monkeypox outbreak, it is particularly important, in addition to vaccination, to identify cases and their contact persons at an early stage, to initiate isolation and quarantine measures, to clarify possible suspected cases promptly and to educate the risk groups concerned and to inform them about protective measures," it continues in a recent STIKO press release dated June 9, 2022.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also calls for caution, especially since the number of infections in Germany such as Berlin and Munich is also increasing.

This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication.

In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor.

Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.

Source: merkur

All life articles on 2022-06-10

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