Understanding Monkeypox
While much of the world still struggles with novel variants of the Coronavirus, a new rare disease recently started making headlines. Monkeypox is a rapidly spreading global outbreak, one that the World Health Organization (WHO) very recently categorized as a global health emergency alongside ebola and COVID-19.
A note: At Infections Managed, we want our patients and our community to be informed on the latest data. This page can serve as a reference for monkeypox; information here comes from both the CDC and WHO listings about the disease. At this time, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO TREAT MONKEYPOX. If you need to speak with someone prior to visiting your healthcare provider, don’t hesitate to call our office at (954) 776-9992. While Infections Managed wants to keep its patients as informed as possible, PLEASE DO NOT VISIT OUR OFFICES IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE MONKEYPOX.
What is Monkeypox
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by an infection with the monkeypox virus. The disease is a viral zoonosis, or a virus transmitted to humans from animals. The monkeypox virus was first discovered in 1958, and it’s part of the same family of the virus that causes smallpox. Human monkeypox wasn’t identified until the 1970s in a 9-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. More recently, it has spread to other parts of the world — including the US.
Monkeypox typically lasts from 2-4 weeks. People who don’t have monkeypox symptoms cannot spread the virus to others.
How Monkeypox is Transmitted
As previously mentioned, monkeypox is a viral zoonosis, meaning that animal-to-human transmission was one way it spread. Humans eating contaminated or infected animals could’ve been the risk for those infected in countries labeled as hotspots for the disease.
Human-to-human transmission, however, is different — and more susceptible to misinformation. Person-to-person transmission comes from the following:
- Close contact with respiratory secretions
- Contacting skin lesions of an infected person or recently contaminated objects
- Direct contact with infectious rash, scabs or fluids
There’s been a quick association between monkeypox and sexually active individuals. At this time, we do not know if monkeypox can spread through semen or vaginal fluids. Close proximity seems to be the key indicator of sharing fluids and/or getting close enough to contact the infected sores on the skin.
Symptoms of Monkeypox
The most common symptoms of monkeypox represent similarly to smallpox, but less severe than smallpox. Monkeypox patients typically have fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, and flu-like symptoms.
Most people with monkeypox experience a rash. Symptoms usually start within 3 weeks of exposure. The rash may be located near the genitals or anus, the CDC notes, but it could also show up on hands, feed, chest or face. The rash often looks like pimples or blisters, and it can be itchy or painful.
How to Prevent Monkeypox
Avoid sex or intimacy with anyone who has an unexplained rash.
If your partner has an unexplained rash, make sure they’re checked out by a healthcare provider or a public health clinic.
Stay Informed
Monkeypox primarily occurs in central and west Africa, near tropical rainforests, but its increasing concentrations in urban is causing alarm. The CDC is currently tracing outbreaks of monkeypox that’s spread across countries that don’t typically report it.
Monkeypox Treatments and Vaccines
Currently, the FDA has licensed two vaccines to prevent monkeypox infection. There is a limited supply of the JYNNEOS (aka Imamune/Imvanex), with more expected to come in weeks and months. There is also a second vaccine, ACAM2000. However, it is not fit for everyone; check with your healthcare provider before pursuing ACAM2000.
There’s no current data available in the US with regards to the effectiveness of these vaccines given the current outbreak.
As of this writing, there are no treatments specifically for monkeypox. There are antivirals recommended to people who are more likely to get severely ill from monkeypox or smallpox, like people who who have weakened immune systems.
What to Do If You Suspect You Have Monkeypox
Visit your healthcare provider as early as possible if you develop an unexplained rash. Wear a mask when you visit, as the virus can quickly spread.
If your healthcare provider confirms you have monkeypox, isolate at home. If you have an active rash, stay in a separate room away from other people and pets that reside in your home.
When Infections Managed wants to keep its patients as informed as possible, PLEASE DO NOT VISIT OUR OFFICES IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE MONKEYPOX. At this time, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO TREAT MONKEYPOX. If you need to speak with someone prior to visiting your healthcare provider, don’t hesitate to call our office at (954) 776-9992.