Mpox outbreak: Mpox virus is increasing in many countries of the world. After the neighboring country Pakistan, the first case of this virus has come to light in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). After this the number of infected people has increased to four.
This virus has been found in a 47 year old man resident of PoK. This person had recently returned to Pakistan from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The man was admitted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad with symptoms of MPOX.
Hospital doctor Naseem Akhtar said that the patient had symptoms of monkey pox. Such patients are kept in special wards. Let us tell you that earlier three cases of monkey pox were reported in Pakistan. All of them had come from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
WHO has declared MPOX a global public health emergency. The health agency had classified it as a ‘Grade 3 emergency’, which means it needs immediate attention. Let us tell you that till now cases of MPox virus were found only in Africa, but now its cases have started being found outside Africa also.
What is MPOX?
Monkeypox is a viral disease caused by monkeypox virus, a species of the Orthopoxvirus genus. MPox was earlier known as monkeypox. This virus was first identified by scientists in 1958 when there was an outbreak of ‘pox-like’ disease in monkeys.
How is mpox spread?
Mpox is a viral infection that spreads mainly through contact with an infected person or animal. Mpox can spread from one person to another through direct contact with infected skin or other lesions such as the mouth or genitals. Most cases in Central and Western Africa have been seen in people who had contact with infected animals.
Experts say that this infection can also spread through the use of contaminated items like clothes or linen, common items used in tattoo shops, parlors or other public places. The virus can also spread from animals to humans through bites, scratches, eating or other activities with infected animals.
What are the symptoms of mpox?
People infected with mpox often develop a rash on the body which may appear on the arms, legs, chest, face or mouth, or around the genitals. These pustules eventually form pustules (large white or yellow pustules filled with pus) and scab before healing. Its other symptoms also include fever, headache and muscle pain.
Lymph nodes can also swell as they try to fight the virus, and in rare cases, the virus can be fatal. A person infected with this can infect many people from the initial symptoms until the rash appears and then gets cured.
How long do symptoms last?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms of mpox begin to appear within 21 days of exposure to the virus. The time from exposure to mpox to symptoms appearing is 3 to 17 days. During this time, the person does not show any symptoms. But after this time is over, the effect of the virus starts becoming visible.
What is the treatment for mpox?
There is no specific treatment for MPOX yet. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends giving medicine for its symptoms like pain and fever. CDC says that if a patient has good immunity and does not have skin disease, then he can recover even without any treatment. He will just need care.