Written by Bernie Carr
Just a quick post today, as I wanted to share a developing story that I am closely watching.
A traveler, who recently arrived from visiting Nigeria, arrived in Dallas infected with a case of monkeypox.
What is monkeypox?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), monkeypox is a rare viral disease that is similar to smallpox, but with milder symptoms.
Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research, hence the name ‘monkeypox.’ The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. Since then monkeypox has been reported in humans in other central and western African countries.
Monkeypox begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. The main difference between symptoms of smallpox and monkeypox is that monkeypox causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) while smallpox does not. The incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) for monkeypox is usually 7−14 days but can range from 5−21 days.
SOURCE: CDC
What happens later is the alarming part: within one to three days or possibly longer, the rash, then the pus filled lesions start to appear, likely beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the body. The sickness lasts for two to four weeks.
How is it transmitted?
The disease can be transmitted through respiratory droplets, body fluids as well as coming into contact with an infected animal or animal products.
When the news was first reported, it was said that risk that the traveler spread the bug to others on the flights and in the airport was low, in large part due to masking protocols practiced because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the federal agency.
200 people are now being monitored
News reports are now appearing that the indicate the CDC is monitoring more than 200 people in 27 states for possible exposure to monkeypox, after they were in contact with the traveler who contracted the disease.
The people being monitored include fliers who sat within six feet of the patient or used the mid-cabin bathroom on the overseas flight, according to the article.
Airline workers and family members were also being evaluated for possible exposure to the virus, which has an incubation period of three to 17 days, the outlet reported.
SOURCE: New York Post
Is there a cure?
There is no proven, safe treatment for monkeypox virus infection at this time. If there were an outbreak in the U.S., smallpox vaccine, antivirals, and vaccinia immune globulin (VIG) can be used, according to the CDC.
Hopefully, the disease will not spread any further than the one case. This story definitely is one we should keep an eye on.
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About the author:
Bernie Carr is the founder of Apartment Prepper. She has written several books including the best-selling Prepper’s Pocket Guide, Jake and Miller’s Big Adventure, The Penny-Pinching Prepper and How to Prepare for Most Emergencies on a $50 a Month Budget. Her work appears in sites such as the Allstate Blog and Clark.com, as well as print magazines such as Backwoods Survival Guide and Prepper Survival Guide. She has been featured in national publications such as Fox Business and Popular Mechanics. Learn more about Bernie here.
