What is 'Monkeypox' and How is it Transmitted?

The disease 'Monkeypox', previously known as monkey pox, was first identified in 1958 following outbreaks of 'pox-like' diseases in monkeys. For a long time, most human cases were observed in individuals in Central and West Africa who had close contact with infected animals. In 2022, it was confirmed for the first time that this viral disease can also be transmitted through sexual relations, with outbreaks reported in over 70 countries that had not previously reported cases of monkeypox. The number of human cases of monkeypox has significantly increased in recent weeks. Last week, the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that monkeypox had been identified in at least 13 African countries. This center also added that compared to the same period last year, cases of this disease have increased by 160% and deaths by 19%. In this new outbreak, unlike previous outbreaks of this virus, milder symptoms have been observed in patients, and lesions that were previously seen on the chest, hands, and feet now appear more on the genital area, making diagnosis more difficult. Fever, headache, muscle pain, and swollen lymph nodes, including under the arms and on both sides and back of the neck, are among the other symptoms of this disease. These infections can last from two to four weeks, and diagnosis may be made by sampling fluids from skin lesions. Generally, there are two main strains of this virus known as 'clade 1' and 'clade 2'. Each clade is a broad group of viruses that have evolved over decades and are genetically and clinically distinct. Both strains can be transmitted through direct contact with infected wild animals or through close contact, including sexual or intimate contact with an infected person. The transmission of this virus can also occur through prolonged face-to-face interactions, such as talking. On the other hand, the monkeypox virus can be transmitted through contact with objects, fabrics, and surfaces that have not been disinfected after use by an infected person. This includes items such as clothing, bedding, towels, or sex toys. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an infected person can transmit the monkeypox virus from the time symptoms appear until the skin lesions have completely healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed over them. According to a statement published on the organization's website, some individuals may transmit the monkeypox virus to others from one to four days before symptoms appear. Although mild cases of monkeypox can resolve on their own, there is currently no approved treatment or vaccine for it. Studies are currently underway on the antiviral drug tecovirimat, which was originally designed to treat smallpox and is sold under the brand name TPOXX. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also approved the JYNNEOS vaccine as a smallpox vaccine for severe cases of monkeypox in individuals over 18 years old. A specialist doctor in Tehran states that monkeypox symptoms begin with fever and muscle pain and progress to painful red bumps that fill with fluid. Hossein Kiani, a faculty member at Iran University of Medical Sciences and a clinical virologist, classified the outbreak of this new strain of the disease as belonging to the clade 1 monkeypox virus and considers the transmission speed through sexual relations to be very high. He noted that the World Health Organization last declared an emergency for vaccination against smallpox in the 1980s. Kiani emphasized that since then, vaccination against smallpox has not been widespread, and the World Health Organization has issued warnings upon seeing cases of this disease in African countries such as Congo, Brunei, Rwanda, and Kenya, and has established vaccination programs for countries where outbreaks are likely. This virologist believes that in Iran, due to the low and controlled number of monkeys and limited tourist traffic to African countries, the likelihood of an outbreak of this disease is low and 'there are no concerns similar to those of COVID-19.' According to Kiani, younger individuals are more likely to contract this disease, and if infected, any treatment methods must be accompanied by the duration of the illness.