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What are the symptoms and causes of monkeypox?

Now, after the coronavirus, another disease has become a threat to the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a state of emergency in 13 countries. The website of the Sulaimani Health Directorate provides information about this disease:

Embox monkeypox is caused by a virus and the most common symptoms are painful skin infection that lasts for two to four weeks, accompanied by fever, headache, joint pain and back pain.

Monkeypox is transmitted from person to person through physical contact with an infected person or touching contaminated objects or animals.

Causes of monkeypox transmission:

- Contact with infected people through touching and sexual activity.

- Touching and kissing the skin of the infected person.

- Touching the face while speaking or breathing.

- Touching infected objects.

- Touching infected animals through hunting, slaughter and use of their meat.

Monkeypox virus was first discovered in 1958 in Denmark among monkeys used for medical experiments. In 1970, human infection was first reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Symptoms of monkeypox:

Symptoms appear within a week and last up to four weeks, with some people with weakened immune systems lasting longer.

- Skin infections and throat infections.

- Nausea, headache and weakness.

- Muscle pain and back pain.

- Swelling of lymph nodes.

Monkeypox appears as an infection of the skin, filling the affected area with fluid and causing severe and painful itching. During healing, the skin becomes dry and flaky, and most patients recover within 2 to 4 weeks.

* Guidelines for people with monkeypox:

* Notify anyone you have recently mixed with.

* Avoid sexual intercourse.

* Stay at home until the infected skin disappears and a new layer of skin forms.

* Cover affected areas and wear a mask when with others.

* Wash hands with soap and water, especially before and after touching the infected area.

* Do not touch or injure the affected area, which can slow healing and spread to other parts of the body.

In 2022, monkeypox spread suddenly across Europe and both North and South America, infecting 87,000 people and killing 112 people in 110 countries. The World Health Organization has declared monkeypox a global health emergency and is preparing to prevent the spread it's an epidemic.