00:00WHO's head Dr. Tedros declared monkeypox epidemic a public health emergency of international
00:06concern on July 23rd, 2022.
00:09The Indian government also held a high-level meeting on the very next day on 24th July.
00:14So what do we know about monkeypox so far?
00:16Before we start this video, here is a disclaimer.
00:18This video contains graphic images which might be uncomfortable for some viewers.
00:23Monkeypox is a zoonotic viral infection.
00:26What is a zoonotic viral infection?
00:28It is an infection which can spread from animals to humans, though monkeypox spread
00:32from person to person.
00:34Monkeypox spreads from person to person through close contact with someone who has a monkeypox
00:39rash or including sexual contact.
00:43Human to human transmission occurs primarily through large respiratory droplets.
00:47It can also be transmitted through direct contact with body fluids or lesion materials
00:51and indirect contact with lesion materials such as contaminated clothing or linens of
00:56an infected person.
00:58Animal to human transmission may occur by bite or scratch of infected animal like small
01:02mammals including rodents i.e. rats and squirrels and non-human primates like monkeys and apes
01:09or through bushmeat which is general term for meat of wild animals.
01:13Symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain, low energy and swollen
01:18limb nodes.
01:20This is followed or accompanied by development of a rash and lesions which can last for 2
01:24or 3 weeks.
01:25The rash can be found on the face, palms, soles of the feet, eyes, mouth, throat, groin
01:31and genital and anal regions of the body.
01:34The number of lesions can range from 1 to several thousands.
01:37The symptoms typically last 2 or 3 weeks and usually go away on their own with supportive
01:42care such as medication for pain or fever.
01:46People remain infectious until all of the lesions have crusted over and scabs fallen
01:51off and a new layer of skin has formed underneath.
01:54So who is at risk of catching monkeypox?
01:56People who live with or have close contact with someone who has monkeypox or who has
02:00regular contact with animals who could be infected are most at risk.
02:05In addition, newborns, young children and people with underlying immune deficiencies
02:09may be at risk of more serious symptoms and in rare cases death from monkeypox.
02:14Those at high risk for severe disease or complications include pregnant women and children and immunocompromised
02:20individuals whose immune system's ability to fight infection is compromised.
02:25So what is the treatment for people with monkeypox?
02:29Symptoms normally resolve on their own without the need of treatment.
02:32Patient can use medication for pain and fever to relieve some symptoms.
02:38Anyone with monkeypox needs to stay hydrated, eat well and get enough sleep.
02:43People with monkeypox should avoid scratching their skin.
02:46The rash can be kept clean with sterilized water or antiseptic.
02:50Lidocaine can be applied to oral and pre-annual regions to relieve pain.
02:56Since 1970, human cases of monkeypox have been reported in 11 African countries, Benin,
03:01Cameroon, CAR, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria,
03:07the Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and South Sudan.
03:10A total of four cases of monkeypox have been reported in India, three people from Kerala
03:15and one from Delhi who had no history of travel outside India.
03:18Till now, no deaths have been reported in India.
03:22So are there any vaccines available?
03:24A Danish biotechnology company, Bavarian Nordic AS, was granted marketing approval for its
03:30monkeypox vaccine.
03:33It's called Imvanax by the European Commission on 25th July.
03:38Imvanax has been approved in the EU since 2013 to prevent smallpox.
03:43It was also considered a potential vaccine for monkeypox.
03:47Monkeypox belongs to the orthopoxvirus family of viruses, which includes smallpox.
03:51Luckily, due to cross-protection, a phenomenon in which pre-existing viral infections prevents
03:59a secondary infection, smallpox vaccines also work for monkeypox.
04:03So who should get vaccinated?
04:05Only those at risk, for example, someone who has been in close contact with someone who
04:08has monkeypox should be considered for vaccination.
04:13Mass vaccination is not recommended at this time.
04:16This is said by WHO.
04:18So is there a risk of this becoming a larger outbreak?
04:21According to WHO, monkeypox is less contagious than other infectious diseases such as COVID
04:27because it requires close contact with infected individuals or animals to spread and contaminate
04:34the environment.
04:35So that's all about monkeypox.
04:37If you like this video, give a thumbs up, share your thoughts in the comment section
04:40and do share this with your friends and family.
04:43Thanks for watching.
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