Monkeypox In Nigeria.

The genesis of monkeypox began in the year 1958. It all started with monkeys that were kept in a research areas for experiment purpose. Moneypox is a disease caused by the mpox virus. This virus usually affects rodents, such as rats or mice, or nonhuman primates, such as monkeys. But it can occur in people in our surroundings which leads to various infectious illnesses. Mpox symptoms may start 5 to 21 days after the infected victims has been exposed to it. The time between when an infected person was exposed and when he or she has the symptoms is called the incubation period. Mpox symptoms last 2 to 4 weeks and may include; fever, skin rash, headache, muscle aches and backaches, chills, tiredness, swollen and lymph nodes.

About 1 to 4 days after the patient begins to have fever and skin rash it will start to appear on the surface of the skin of the infected person. The Mpox rash often first appears on the face, hands or feet and then spreads to other parts of the body. The Mpox rash goes through many stages. The first stage is the Flat spots stage which turnsinto blisters. Then the blisters fill with pus, scab over and fall off over a period of 2 to 4 weeks.

An individual can spread Mpox while he has the symptoms. So from when your symptoms start until your rash and scabs heal. The patient goes through a lot of discomfort of the skin because of the rashes and other aches of the body as a result of the blisters.

The virus spread through Close contact with an infected person or animal. It can also spread through the use of blankets used by an infected person.The spread of monkeypox may occur when a person comes into close contact with an infected animal (rodents are believed to be the primary animal reservoir for transmission to humans), human, or materials contaminated with the virus. The virus enters into the body through broken skin (even if not visible), the respiratory tract, or the mucus membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth) which eventually weakens the cell organs of the infected person.

This virus can be spread through direct contact with monkeypox skin lesions or scabs including during sexual contact, kissing, cuddling or holding hands.

Another factor is through coughing or sneezing of an individual with a monkeypox rash when they are close to someone.

Clothing or linens such as bedding or towels used by an infected person.

Though, the virus can be treated through the use of smallpox vaccine from the hospital when given antiviral drugs such as cidofovir and tecovirimat can also be used to treat monkeypox patients with severe disease or those who are at high risk of severe disease.

The infected person should be isolated if observed as a carrier of the virus and clinical laboratories should also be informed in advance of samples submitted from suspected or confirmed diagnosis of monkeypox.

I must not rule out the main complications of monkeypoxwhich includes dehydration due to water loss from numerous and more widespread lesions which is known as sepsis and corneal. This sepsis and corneal may lead to vision loss of the infected person.

In summary, more scientific research and investigations should be made on this virus so that we can be better prepared for any and all eventualities now and to come.

Ikelegbe Vivian Uzezi Writes from department of English Language, Lagos State University (Lasu)