A recent monkeypox virus was found in a case in California. How should we prevent getting this virus and can this potentially lead to a second pandemic?
Monkeypox (Mpox) is a virus similar to smallpox. The first reported case of monkeypox was in 1970, involving a nine-month-old boy from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mpox symptoms are identical to the flu: fever, sore throat, headache and muscle aches. (World Health Organization) Another symptom that Mpox is known for is its painful rash. The recovery could take two-four weeks, depending on the person’s immune system.
Now that we know the symptoms of Mpox, we’ll explore how this disease can spread and how we can prevent ourselves from getting it.
Mpox is spread from person to person, usually through close contact with someone infected. WHO listed close contact such as skin-to-skin, mouth-to-mouth, or mouth-to-skin contact; being face-to-face with someone who has Mpox, talking or breathing close to one another can spread Mpox. The transmission of the disease is similar to COVID-19. Also, Mpox can be spread through contact with animals.
WHO lists ways to care for ourselves and prevent pox from spreading to others. Staying at home and self-isolating yourself until you recover from the disease is a method, and well-ventilating your room is also important. Washing your hands often with soap and water or using hand sanitizer is very important. Wearing masks and covering lesions around people until your rashes have healed is also important.
Taking care of yourself will generally lead to a quick recovery without harming your surroundings.
Some key aspects that the WHO says not to do when having pox are not popping blisters or scratching the sore places, leading to slow healing and spreading rashes to other body parts. Shaving areas that are sored is highly not recommended as this act can spread the rashes to other parts of the body.
Currently, the type of Mpox isn’t severe, and it’s at a low risk that leads to death. Additionally, the potential of a future pandemic like COVID-19 seems less likable. Mary Hayden, MD (Doctor of Medicine), chief of infectious disease at Rush University Medical Center, stated “No” to Mpox having the potential of becoming a major pandemic like COVID-19, further saying, “The virus that causes monkeypox is much harder to spread than the virus that causes COVID-19.”
Many fear that the recent case in California could lead to a major pandemic such as COVID-19. In the current situation, it is less likely for Mpox to become a major disease that will cause lockdown. However, according to the statistics and what scientists say, we still have to be aware and prepared for this disease so that we may learn from our past mistakes. We’re still recovering from the pandemic, and through our mistakes, we can’t make another mistake that we have made over the past five years. I believe that our past mistakes will make a change in the future, and that day will be today.