Monkey Pox: Have you heard about it? First Outbreak since 2003..

 Monkey Pox: First Outbreak since 2003 in US

                 

        A US man from Texas who recently travelled from Africa has been hospitalized due to illness. The cause of illness was later found to be monkeypox, believes Texas Department of State Health Services. It is the first case in the Texas state, since early 2000 as the last outbreak of the rare disease was happened.

                                          

        The Texas resident is stable and isolated in hospital, Dallas to prevent further viral spread. To protect the identity and privacy of Texas resident his details has been kept anonymous but his details of flights have been released as the person took two flights during his return from Africa to the U.S. in early July one from Lagos, Nigeria, to Atlanta, Georgia, and one from Atlanta to Dallas, Texas as per CDC.

        To prevent another outbreak the origin and tracing the persons contact is undergone but the health officials of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other organization have informed the risk to the public is low, especially because COVID-19 precautions.

Origin

        Monkeypox, which originates from the same family of viruses as smallpox, is a rare disease that causes flu-like illness and swelling of the lymph nodes, progressing to a widespread rash on the face and body. Most infections last two to four weeks. While it's known to cause mild infection, it can become a potentially serious viral illness.

History

        Most outbreaks of monkeypox have occurred in Africa, with the first human case recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Import of African rodents to pet prairie dogs in the early 2000 is the major reason for the outbreak of monkeypox in 2003 in US which results in 47 reported cases.

                        

Who Could be Affected?

        People can catch monkeypox by coming in contact with infected animals or animal products, including by preparing wild game or being bitten or scratched by an animal. Human-to-human transmission occurs primarily through large respiratory droplets.

Recommendation from Health Officials

        It don’t pose any threat to general public as the likelihood spread of the disease is minimal due to strict COVID-19 protocols in airport, also passengers on the flights wore face masks while onboard. More importantly asymptomatic individuals can’t spread the virus to others.