Monkeypox aka monkeypox is a viral infectious disease caused by a rare virus from animals (zoonotic virus).
Monkeys are the main host of the monkeypox virus. Therefore, this disease is called monkey smallpox. Cases that were transmitted from monkeys to humans were first discovered in 1970 in Congo, South Africa.
Symptoms of this disease are generally similar to those of smallpox, such as fever and skin rash that blisters become elastic. However, symptoms are also accompanied by swelling of the lymph nodes in the armpit.
Transmission of monkeypox among humans occurs through direct contact with elastic or sores on the skin, body fluids, droplets released when sneezing and coughing, and touching surfaces contaminated with the monkeypox virus.
The dangers of this disease can be effectively prevented through vaccines. Antiviral for the treatment of monkeypox is still being studied further.
Monkeypox signs and symptoms
People infected with the monkeypox virus will start showing their first symptoms 6-16 days after exposure.
The period when the virus is not yet actively multiplying in the body is known as the incubation period. The incubation period for the monkeypox virus can range from 6-13 days. However, it can also occur in a longer range, which is 5-21 days..
However, as long as there are no symptoms, a person can still transmit the monkeypox virus to others.
The initial symptoms of this disease are the same as chickenpox caused by a viral infection, which causes flu-like symptoms.
Causes of monkey pox
Monkeypox virus is a virus of animal origin (zoonotic virus).
It is known that this virus was originally transmitted by the bite of wild animals such as squirrels. However, the researchers also found that this virus infected a group of monkeys under study. From here, this disease is called monkey smallpox.
The monkeypox virus belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus in the family Poxviridae. Viruses belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus include the variola virus that causes smallpox (smallpox), vaccinia virus (which is used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox virus.
Most cases of monkeypox experienced by humans are caused by transmission from animals. Viruses of animal origin can enter the human body through open wounds in the skin, respiratory tract, mucous membranes, and mucous membranes (saliva).
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