Social media and news are booming with information about MonkeyPox or known as MPox by WHO (World Health Organization). There was a big conspiracy on if MPox would be a global pandemic like CoronaVirus due to its quick spreading. From what we know, it is not a pandemic.
The disease has been existing for a long time. There was an outbreak during 2022, which was mostly in Africa. However, now, it has been an outbreak once again and has spread beyond Africa and is now in the United States and other places around the globe.
MPox is an infectious disease that can now be spread contact to contact. It can be spread through face to face contact, skin to skin contact, and mouth to mouth contact. It can also be spread through contact with contaminated materials, like clothing, and through contact with infected animals.
MPox has a variety of symptoms that can help with diagnosis. Symptoms can begin within a week of contact, but can start 1-21 days after exposure to the illness. Symptoms roughly last within the 2-4 week range, but can be longer.
Common symptoms:
- Rash
- Fever
- Sore Throat
- Headaches
- Muscle aches
- Back pain
- Low energy
- Swollen Lymph Nodes
The rash is what most people experience and what is the common “give away” that it could potentially be or is MPox. It begins on the face and spreads quickly to the hands and feet and the rest of the body. It then develops into a blister and you go through the process of a blister where it dries up, and then heals and crusts off.
It’s important to take care of yourself and if you do get sick with MPox to call your doctor immediately to get treatment and vaccinated. Preventing the spread of the disease is highly important to keep everyone around you safe and lessen the numbers of rising cases.
