| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
| Contents | ||
Human monkeypox is a rare zoonotic viral disease that occurs primarily in remote villages of Central and West Africa close to tropical rainforests where there is frequent contact with infected animals. Monkeypox is usually transmitted to humans from rodents, pets and primates through contact with the animal's blood or through a bite.
Monkeypox was first associated with human illness in Zaire and West Africa during 1970- 1971. A second outbreak of human illness was identified in Zaire in 1996- 1997. As of 2003, a small outbreak of human monkeypox in the United States appears to be in progress.
In humans, monkeypox is similar to smallpox, although it is often milder. Unlike smallpox, monkeypox causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy). The incubation period for monkeypox is about 12 days (range 7 to 17 days). The illness begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, a general feeling of discomfort, and exhaustion. Within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a papular rashA rash is a change in the skin which affects its appearance or texture. A rash may be localised to one part of the body, or affect all the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change colour, itch, become warm, bumpy, dry, cracked or blistered, swell and may (i.e., raised bumps), often first on the face but sometimes initially on other parts of the body. The lesions usually develop through several stages before crusting and falling off.
Vaccination against smallpox, which is no longer necessary, also gives protection against the monkeypox virus. Limited person-to-person spread of infection has been reported in disease-endemic areas in Africa. Case-fatality ratios in Africa have ranged from 1% to 10% (for additional information about monkeypox, see [1]).
Currently, there is no proven, safe treatment for monkeypox. Smallpox vaccine has been reported to reduce the risk of monkeypox among previously vaccinated persons in Africa. The United States Centers for Disease Control and PreventionThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recognized as the lead United States agency for protecting the public health and safety of people by providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong pa (CDC) recommends that persons investigating monkeypox outbreaks and involved in caring for infected individuals or animals should receive a smallpox vaccination to protect against monkeypox. Persons who have had close or intimate contact with individuals or animals confirmed to have monkeypox should also be vaccinated. These persons can be vaccinated up to 14 days after exposure. CDC does not recommend preexposure vaccination for unexposed veterinarians, veterinary staff, or animal control officers, unless such persons are involved in field investigations.
As of June 7, 2003, cases of suspected monkeypox in the United States had been reported among residents of WisconsinOne of the periods of glaciation was also termed the Wisconsin glaciation. Wisconsin is the 23rd largest state of the United States, (54,314 square miles) and 18th greatest population (5,453,896 as of 2002). The state's name is an English version of a Fre (18), northern IllinoisIllinois is a state in the United States named after the Illiniwek Indian tribe, which used to live there. The capital of Illinois is Springfield and the U. postal abbreviation for the state is IL . Illinois is pronounced ill-len-NOY, or jokingly, ill-len (10), and northwestern IndianaIndiana meaning the "Land of the Indians", is a state of the United States with its capital Indianapolis. postal abbreviation for the state is IN . A resident of Indiana is called a Hoosier. USS Indiana was named in honor of this state. History Indiana wa (1). The disease stemmed from a GambianThe Republic of The Gambia is a nation of western Africa, entirely surrounded by Senegal, except for a short coastline which is the outlet of the Gambia River to the North Atlantic Ocean. A former British colony, it became independent in 1965. The capital giant pouched rat imported by a pet shop in Chicago and is believed to have jumped to domesticated prairie dogs which were then distributed by other outlets in the Midwest. Electron microscopy and serologic studies were used to confirm that the disease was human monkeypox.
By June 9, CDC officials said the number of suspected or confirmed cases was 22 in Wisconsin, 10 in Indiana, and five in Illinois.
As of June 11, a total of 54 persons with suspected monkeypox had been reported in Wisconsin (20), Illinois (10), Indiana (23), and New Jersey (1). Monkeypox had been confirmed by laboratory tests in nine persons. At least 14 of the people with suspected monkeypox had been hospitalized for their illness; there have been no deaths related to the outbreak. The number of cases and states involved in the outbreak will likely change as the investigation continues. The CDC Web site has updates for this and other current information about the outbreak.
The onset of illness among patients in the United States began in early May 2003. Patients typically experienced a prodrome consisting of fever, headaches, myalgias, chills, and drenching sweats. Roughly one-third of patients had nonproductive cough. This prodromal phase was followed 1-10 days later by the development of a papular rash that typically progressed through stages of vesiculation, pustulation, umbilication, and crusting. In some patients, early lesions have become ulcerated. Rash distribution and lesions have occurred on head, trunk, and extremities; many of the patients had initial and satellite lesions on palms and soles and extremities. Rashes were generalized in some patients. After onset of the rash, patients have generally manifested rash lesions in different stages. All patients reported direct or close contact with prairie dogs, most of which were sick. Illness in prairie dogs was frequently reported as beginning with a blepharoconjunctivitis, progressing to presence of nodular lesions in some cases. Some prairie dogs have died from the illness, while others reportedly recovered.
Despite reports in June 2003 of possible human-to-human spread of Monkeypox in the U.S.(consistent with the history of the disease in Africa, see external links), there has never been a documented or laboratory-confirmed case of human-to-human spread of the disease.