After the still existing Covid-19 pandemic, we have encountered a new global challenge affecting health that is being spread quickly. This time, we talk about monkeypox, which is terrorising the world. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), this disease occurs mainly in tropical rainforest areas of Africa and it is weird for it to be exported to other regions. Nevertheless, there are currently thousands of new cases across Europe, America and Asia due to the 2022 outbreak. Moreover, according to the official data provided by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, monkeypox is already affecting 76 countries that have never been affected before. That is why, it is important to know that this disease is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal. From one person to another, it is commonly transmitted because of open wounds, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding.
Symptoms of monkeypox last from 2 to 4 weeks, with a low fatality rate. Some of the signs to look out for are fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes, located in neck, armpits, chest, abdomen and groins. Skin eruptions usually begins within 1-3 days after the appearance of fever and they extend throughout face and limbs. Furthermore, these are usually bulky pustules filled with a clear or yellow liquid. Despite arriving recently to western countries, there are new vaccines available, but the ones used to eradicate smallpox worked just fine. To prevent a new global pandemic, please, go see your doctor as soon as you are aware that you have been in close contact with a monkeypox infected person, and also if you have the aforementioned symptoms.