What is monkey pox?
Monkey pox is a rare viral infection in humans. The virus is not highly transmissible and close physical contact is required for transmission.
How monkey pox spreads
Person-to-person transmission involves close contact (for example kissing, cuddling, sexual contact) with an infected person or materials that have been contaminated by an infected person (for example sharing linen, clothes and other household items). Any persons, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, can catch monkey pox if they have close contact with someone infected with the virus.
Symptoms
Monkey pox symptoms include fever and general flu-like symptoms, followed by the eruption of a blister-like rash on the skin. The disease is rarely fatal and cases typically resolve within two to four weeks. Most cases do not require hospital treatment.
Prevention
Prevention of monkey pox infection hinges on the isolation of cases until fully recovered. The risk to the general population is considered low, given the low transmissibility of the virus.
JUST IN: The first case of monkey pox has been detected in South Africa.
The patient is a 30 year old male from Johannesburg who has no travel history, meaning that this cannot be attributed to having been outside South Africa. #eNCA #MonkeyPox— Heidi Giokos (@HeidiGiokos) June 23, 2022