As of July 22, the United States has confirmed 2891 cases of of Monkeypox in the country. Forty-one cases have been reported in New Jersey.
What is Monkeypox?
This Infection discovered in 1958 as an “orthopox” virus has
two sources , Central Africa. The West Africa variety appears to
be causing most of the US infections and while it is significant
in numbers, it has not caused many deaths. The virus, however, has caused painful and disruptive symptoms and pain. In the past, most infections in the US were rare and associated with
international traveling or transmission from animals.
Symptoms People who are infected can develop flu-like
symptoms, swollen lymph nodes and a rash that often
begins on the face and spreads to other parts of the
body. Patients can present first with a viral “prodrome” of
flu-like feeling or sore throat swollen lymph nodes, followed by
the presentation of skin lesions. These lesions go through several stages. Less commonly the lesions can occur before the onset of flu-like symptoms. People experiencing this infection may also have rectal (proctitits) or genital pain.
Transmission of Infection
Monkeypox does not spread easily to people without close contact
It can occur from person-to-person contact and is most
common in men who have sex with men (M-S-M). Skin-to-
skin contact with infected body fluids (e.g., fluid from vesicles
and pustules) is a source of contagion as is respiratory
secretions during prodromal and rash stages. Fomites such
as associated with furniture do not appear to be however.
There is still concern about contaminated bedding linens
from the contaminated scabs/pustules). There have now
been reports of the virus in children and during pregnancy.