Monkeypox is a rare viral disease that occurs
mostly in central and western Africa. It is called "monkeypox" because
it was first found in 1958 in laboratory monkeys. Blood rests of animals
in Africa later found that other types of animals probably had monkeypox.
Scientists also recovered the virus that causes monkeypox from an African
squirrel. These types of squirrels might be the common host for the
disease. Rats, mice and rabbits can get monkeypox, too. Monkeypox
was reported in humans for the first time in 1970.
In early June 2003, monkeypox was reported
among several people in the United States. Most of these people got sick
after having contact with pet prairie dogs that were sick with monkeypox.
This is the first time that there has been an outbreak of monkeypox in the
United States. Investigators have traced the possible source back to a
common distributor of exotic pets where prairie dogs and Gambian giant rats
were housed together in Illinois.
The virus responsible for monkeypox is related
to the virus that causes smallpox (both are orthopox viruses).
Vaccination against smallpox (no longer necessary) also gave protection
against monkeypox. Before the eradication of smallpox, vaccination was
widely practiced and protected against both diseases. However, children
born after 1980 have not been vaccinated against smallpox and are likely to be
more susceptible to monkeypox than older members of the population. The
death rate from monkeypox is highest in young children, reaching about 10%.
Like most viruses, monkeypox cannot be
resolved with medication. The only treatment option is symptomatic; that
is, patients are made as comfortable as possible.
The monkeypox virus is transmitted to humans
through an infected animal if they are bitten or if they touch the animal's
blood, body fluids, or its rash. About 12 days after people are infected
with the virus, they will get a fever, headache, muscle aches, and backache;
their lymph nodes will swell; and they will feel tired. One to 3 days
(or longer) after the fever starts, they will get a rash. This rash
develops into raised bumps filled with fluid and often starts on the face and
spreads, but it can start on other parts of the body too. The bumps go
through several stages before they get crusty, scab over, and fall off.
The illness usually lasts for 2 to 4 weeks.
Monkeypox virus, or an EPA approved surrogate,
is not yet commercially available to test for addition to EPA registered
labels.
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ISSUED: July, 2003 by Buckeye International Inc.
