Monkeypox Trivia | 55 facts about the illness

Monkeypox is an illness that WHO recently declared a public health emergency of international concern.

So let’s dive into some trivia and facts about monkeypox.

1. Monkeypox is an illness caused by the monkeypox virus
2. It is a viral zoonotic infection
3. Meaning that it can spread from animals to humans
4. It can also spread from person to person
5. Monkeypox can cause a range of signs and symptoms
6. While some people have mild symptoms, others may develop more serious symptoms and need care in a health facility
7. Those at higher risk for severe disease or complications include people who are pregnant, children and persons that are immunocompromised
8. The most common symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes
9. This is followed or accompanied by the development of a rash which can last for two to three weeks
10. The rash can be found on the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, eyes, mouth, throat, groin, and genital and/or anal regions of the body
11. The number of lesions can range from one to several thousand
12. Lesions begin flat, then fill with liquid before they crust over, dry up and fall off, with a fresh layer of skin forming underneath
13. Symptoms typically last two to three weeks and usually go away on their own or with supportive care, such as medication for pain or fever
14. People remain infectious until all of the lesions have crusted over, the scabs fallen off and a new layer of skin has formed underneath
15. Anyone who has symptoms that could be monkeypox or who has been in contact with someone who has monkeypox should call or visit a health care provider and seek their advice
16. In most cases, the symptoms of monkeypox go away on their own within a few weeks
17. However, in some people, an infection can lead to medical complications and even death
18. Newborn babies, children and people with underlying immune deficiencies may be at risk of more serious symptoms and death from monkeypox
19. Complications from monkeypox include secondary skin infections, pneumonia, confusion, and eye problems
20. In the past, between 1% to 10% of people with monkeypox have died. It is important to note that death rates in different settings may differ due to a number of factors, such as access to health care
21. These figures may be an overestimate because surveillance for monkeypox has generally been limited in the past
22. In the newly affected countries where the current outbreak is taking place, there have been no deaths to date
23. Monkeypox spreads from person to person through close contact with someone who has a monkeypox rash, including through face-to-face, skin-to-skin, mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-skin contact, including sexual contact
24. We are still learning about how long people with monkeypox are infectious for, but generally they are considered infectious until all of their lesions have crusted over, the scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has formed underneath
25. Environments can become contaminated with the monkeypox virus, for example when an infectious person touches clothing, bedding, towels, objects, electronics and surfaces
26. Someone else who touches these items can then become infected. It is also possible to become infected from breathing in skin flakes or virus from clothing, bedding or towels
27. This is known as fomite transmission
28. Ulcers, lesions or sores in the mouth can be infectious, meaning the virus can spread through direct contact with the mouth, respiratory droplets and possibly through short-range aerosols
29. Possible mechanisms of transmission through the air for monkeypox are not yet well understood and studies are underway to learn more
30. The virus can also spread from someone who is pregnant to the fetus, after birth through skin-to-skin contact, or from a parent with monkeypox to an infant or child during close contact
31. Although asymptomatic infection has been reported, it is not clear whether people without any symptoms can spread the disease or whether it can spread through other bodily fluids
32. Pieces of DNA from the monkeypox virus have been found in semen, but it is not yet known whether infection can spread through semen, vaginal fluids, amniotic fluids, breastmilk or blood
33. Research is underway to find out more about whether people can spread monkeypox through the exchange of these fluids during and after symptomatic infection
34. People who live with or have close contact (including sexual contact) with someone who has monkeypox, or who has regular contact with animals who could be infected, are most at risk
35. Health workers should follow infection prevention and control measures to protect themselves while caring for monkeypox patients
36. Newborn infants, young children and people with underlying immune deficiencies may be at risk of more serious symptoms, and in rare cases, death from monkeypox
37. People who were vaccinated against smallpox may have some protection against monkeypox
38. However, younger people are unlikely to have been vaccinated against smallpox because smallpox vaccination stopped in most settings worldwide after it was eradicated in 1980
39. People who have been vaccinated against smallpox should continue to take precautions to protect themselves and others
40. Reduce your risk of catching monkeypox by limiting close contact with people who have suspected or confirmed monkeypox, or with animals who could be infected
41. Clean and disinfect environments that could have been contaminated with the virus from someone who is infectious regularly
42. Keep yourself informed about monkeypox in your area and have open conversations with those you come into close contact (especially sexual contact) with about any symptoms you or they may have
43. If you think you might have monkeypox, you can act to protect others by seeking medical advice and isolating from others until have been evaluated and tested
44. If you have probable or confirmed monkeypox, you should isolate from others until all of your lesions have crusted over, the scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has formed underneath
45. This will stop you from passing on the virus to others
46. Get advice from your health worker on whether you should isolate at home or in a health facility
47. Until more is understood about transmission through sexual fluids, use condoms as a precaution whilst having sexual contact for 12 weeks after you have recovered
48. A vaccine was recently approved for preventing monkeypox
49. Some countries are recommending vaccination for persons at risk
50. Many years of research have led to development of newer and safer vaccines for an eradicated disease called smallpox, which may also be useful for monkeypox
51. One of these has been approved for prevention of monkeypox
52. Only people who are at risk (for example someone who has been a close contact of someone who has monkeypox) should be considered for vaccination
53. Mass vaccination is not recommended at this time
54. While the smallpox vaccine was shown to be protective against monkeypox in the past, current data on the effectiveness of newer smallpox/monkeypox vaccines in the prevention of monkeypox in clinical practice and in field settings are limited
55. Studying the use of vaccines for monkeypox wherever they are used will allow for rapid generation of additional information on the effectiveness of these vaccines in different settings