What is Monkeypox, how does it spread and how dangerous is it?
'원숭이두창' Q&A로 알아보자
While COVID-19 infections have been slowing down in many parts of the world, another virus has been in the news a lot lately.
That is, of course, monkeypox.
Our Shin Ye-eun tells us more about this virus... and whether or not it poses a threat to us or not. Could we see another pandemic this year?
That's what the World Health Organization is trying to stop... as more and more countries are reporting monkeypox cases.
What's Monkeypox?
Monkeypox is similar to smallpox.
It was first found in monkeys kept for research in a lab in 1958.
The first human case was recorded years later in 1970 in Congo.
Since then, it has been considered an endemic disease... concentrated in central and western African countries.
But recently, it has spread to other parts of the world.
Why?
Just a few weeks ago on May 13th... the UK notified the World Health Organization that it had found three cases of monkeypox. What startled scientists though, is that none of them had visited Africa. They're still looking into how this could have happened.
Meanwhile, this virus has spread across 30 countries... mostly in Europe.
The WHO believes over 5-hundred 50 people have caught the virus so far.
Has it spread to Korea?
No.
But, South Korea's health authorities on Tuesday have placed monkeypox in the second level of contagious diseases in their four-tier scheme.
Authorities are making sure this virus doesn't come into the country.
The most probable route would be through air travel.
They have also ensured that South Korea has a vaccine stockpile against monkeypox. It has enough vaccines to inoculate some 35 million people.
How do you know if you have monkeypox?
What are some main symptoms?
Those infected develop blistery rashes over their body.
Usually, these rashes go away after three weeks.
Other common symptoms are high fevers and muscle aches.
Fortunately, monkeypox is known to have a very low fatality rate.
None of those recently infected have died.
And how can you catch it?
The answer is through close contact.
You can catch monkeypox by touching the rashes, bodily fluids, and scabs of people or animals who have it.
That's why it's important to self-isolate yourself if you're a monkeypox patient... because the virus can spread through clothing, bedding and towels.
And a common misconception... is that monkeypox spreads MOSTLY among gay men.
Some cases in this outbreak have been identified among such communities.
But the WHO says there is no scientific evidence that suggests that this is how the virus spreads.
Shin Ye-eun, Arirang News.
#Monkeypox #virus #WHO
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2022-06-02, 12:00 (KST)