What is monkeypox and how do you catch it?
Cases of monkeypox - a rare, little-known disease - are being investigated in European countries including the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.
In the UK there have
been 57 confirmed cases in recent weeks.
Infections are usually
mild, but the UK government has bought stocks of smallpox vaccine to guard
against monkeypox.
How common is monkeypox?
Monkeypox is caused by
the monkeypox virus, a member of the same family of viruses as smallpox,
although it is much less severe and experts say chances of infection are low.
It occurs mostly in
remote parts of central and west African countries, near tropical rainforests.
There are two main
strains of virus - west African and central African.
Two of the infected
patients in the UK travelled from Nigeria, so it is likely that they are
suffering from the West African strain, which is generally mild.
Another case was a
healthcare worker who picked up the virus from one of the patients.
More recent
cases do not have any known links with each other, or any
history of travel. It appears they caught it in the UK from spread in the
community.
The UK Health
Security Agency says anyone with concerns that they could
be infected should see a health professional, but make contact with the clinic
or surgery ahead of a visit.
What are the symptoms?
Initial symptoms
include fever, headaches, swellings, back pain, aching muscles.
Once the fever breaks
a rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts
of the body, most commonly the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
The rash, which can be
extremely itchy or painful, changes and goes through different stages before
finally forming a scab, which later falls off. The lesions can cause scarring.
The infection usually clears up on its own and lasts between 14 and 21 days.
How do you catch it?
Monkeypox can be
spread when someone is in close contact with an infected person. The virus can
enter the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract or through the eyes,
nose or mouth.
It has not previously
been described as a sexually transmitted infection, but it can be passed on by
direct contact during sex.
It can also be spread
by contact with infected animals such as monkeys, rats and squirrels, or by
virus-contaminated objects, such as bedding and clothing.
How dangerous is it?
Most cases of the
virus are mild, sometimes resembling chickenpox, and clear up on their own
within a few weeks.
Monkeypox can
sometimes be more severe, however, and has been reported to have caused deaths
in West Africa.
Are gay men at greater risk?
Although some of the
cases have been seen in gay and bisexual men, anyone who comes into close
contact with someone who has monkeypox could potentially get the virus.
The UK Health Security
Agency has said "a notable proportion" of the recent cases in the UK
and Europe have been found in gay and bisexual men "so we are particularly
encouraging them to be alert to the symptoms and seek help if concerned".
How common are outbreaks?
The virus was first
identified in a captive monkey and since 1970 there have been sporadic
outbreaks reported across 10 African countries.
In 2003 there was an
outbreak in the US, the first time it had been seen outside Africa. Patients
caught the disease from close contact with prairie dogs that had been infected
by small mammals imported into the country. A total of 81 cases were reported,
but none resulted in deaths.
In 2017, Nigeria
experienced the largest known outbreak. There were 172 suspected cases and 75%
of victims were men between 21 and 40 years old.
What is the treatment?
Outbreaks can be
controlled by infection prevention.
Vaccination against
smallpox has been proven to be 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.
The UK has
bought doses of the smallpox vaccine, but it is not clear how
many jabs might be given.
Antiviral drugs may
also help.
Should the public be concerned?
Experts say we are not
on the brink of a national outbreak and, according to the UK Health Security
Agency (UKHSA), the risk is low.
Prof Jonathan Ball,
professor of molecular virology, University of Nottingham, said: "The fact
that only one of the 50 contacts of the initial monkeypox-infected patient has
been infected shows how poorly infectious the virus is.
"It is wrong to
think that we are on the brink of a nationwide outbreak."
UKHSA is following up
those who have had close contact with patients to offer advice and to monitor
them.