Monkeypox virus is a zoonotic disease belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus, mostly found in Central and West Africa, and is usually transmitted to humans through direct contact with skin lesions or body fluids of an infected person or animal. Dr. Zeynep Özsevimli, Board Member of the Family Physicians Federation and Head of the Science Education Commission, made important warnings against the new pandemic risk and said the following:
“Monkeypox virus, which shows symptoms such as skin rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain and respiratory problems, is a virus that can be transmitted from person to person and sometimes from animals. There is no specific treatment for monkeypox virus, and the drugs used are aimed at alleviating the symptoms and complaints caused by the virus.”
“The most common symptoms of the monkeypox virus are fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain and fatigue. Another typical symptom, rashes, usually appear on the face, hands, feet and mouth, and turn into fluid-filled lesions after a while. Animal hosts that play a role in the spread of the virus are rodents and primates. It is a self-limiting disease with symptoms that usually last 2-4 weeks. In recent years, there have been reports of cases from urban areas in Africa. “
It may be possible to protect against smallpox with vaccination
“A new vaccine based on modified attenuated vaccine virus (Ankara strain) received approval for use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2019 for the prevention of monkeypox. However, the vaccine is available in a limited way. Its clinical use is in two doses (subcutaneously),” said Dr. Zeynep Özsevimli, emphasizing that those who have had smallpox vaccination before may experience the disease more mildly or be protected from the disease.
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