Monkeypox virus under the electron microscope. On the left – mature viruses, on the right – not yet.
The first case of monkeypox has been officially confirmed in Russia, according to the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being (Rospotrebnadzor). The disease was detected in a young man returning from Europe.
Monkeypox has been detected in more than 50 countries this year, with more than 7,500 confirmed cases. This outbreak is unusual because cases have been reported in many countries outside of Central and West Africa, where the disease is endemic.
It is reported that a Russian citizen noticed a characteristic rash on himself and sought medical attention. The patient has been isolated and his life is not in danger. TASS with reference to an expert from Rospotrebnadzor writes that a young man returned to Russia from Portugal.
The monkeypox virus is similar to the smallpox virus, but is not as contagious or deadly. The resulting illness is usually milder – about like chickenpox – and the symptoms go away on their own within a few weeks. However, during some outbreaks of the epidemic in West Africa, the mortality rate reached 10%.
According to the World Health Organization, monkeypox is spread through direct contact with an infected person. The virus can enter the body through cracks in the skin or through airborne droplets through the nose, mouth, or eyes. The disease can also be transmitted to humans from infected monkeys, rats, squirrels, or objects with contaminated surfaces, such as bedding or clothing.
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“What makes the current outbreak particularly alarming is the rapid, ongoing spread to new regions and the risk of further sustained transmission to vulnerable populations, including people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and children,” the WHO previously said.
Global health leaders are not rushing to declare the monkeypox outbreak a pandemic because the coronavirus pandemic is far from over, and the logistics of fighting two pandemics simultaneously are extremely complex. Some optimism comes from the fact that this strain of monkeypox is rarely fatal, and doctors know how to treat it with antiviral drugs and supportive therapy.
In African countries where monkeypox is endemic, 72 deaths have been recorded, compared with none in non-endemic countries to date. In addition, experts have pointed out that new strains of Covid-19, against which current vaccines either do not work or work poorly, pose a much greater threat to global public health than the monkeypox outbreak.
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