Monkeypox: The Newest Virus to Strike Over 500,000 Individuals and the Actions of Pharma Companies
It is quite noteworthy that over the number of years, the world has witnessed a sequence of viral phenomena. The newest virus to capture the world’s interest is Monkeypox, a disease that until recently has stayed largely in Africa. But I now learn this virus has viral to other parts of the world it has affected over 500, 000 people. And as the numbers go up again, the drug makers are putting on their dancing shoes once more, ready to confront the new alter ego. Here is what you should know about Monkeypox; its transmission and prevention measures being taken to eradicate it.
What is Monkeypox?
Monkeypox is closely related to smallpox though it is a zoonotic disease which is transferred from animals to man. The symptoms are very similar to small pox but the effect is not as severe as small pox. Monkeypox was first identified in 1958, after outbreaks were observed in research monkeys and hence the name Monkeypox; the first instance of human infection was reported in 1970 in Demcratic Republic of Congo. Since then the virus has been circulating in some of the areas within the Central and West Africa sub regions.
How is Monkeypox Spread?
Only close contact person to person, or animal to person, or touch with object contaminated with the virus can cause the disease. It can be transmitted directly through the respiratory secretions from an infected person or may exist from the body fluids or skin rash. It can also spread in cases where an object such as bedding or clothing happens to be contaminated by the viral particles.
The Global Spread of Monkeypox
A change of events happened in the year 2022, where Monkeypox started to infect people beyond Africa, in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. This unprecedented spread has also prompted health officials globally to sit up. Other attributes like new human mobility especially with the globalization and expansion process and alteration of human-animal relationships and possibly a factor of evolution of the virus to new strains all contribute to the spread of the virus.
till now over 500,000 individuals have been confirmed positive for Monkeypox all around the world. The high prevalence of the virus has led to calls made to the public by the relevant authorities and general preventive measures such as mass immunization.
Pharmaceutical Companies Gear Up
Notably, Monkeypox is raging through the population, and the pharma firms are starting with their standard routines, including the search for vaccines and cures. Many firms are currently focusing on AS02, an adjuvant system used in future smallpox vaccines, to treat Monkeypox as such vaccines are effective against Monkeypox. Besides the vaccines, anti-viral medications for dealing with the virus are also under consideration at the same time.
The Role of Vaccines
The vaccine is one of the best weapons that are available to humanity in the fight against Monkeypox. Monkeypox has been proved to be prevented by the same vaccine which was used for smallpox until it was wiped out in 1980. As for now, there are some vaccines in the experimental and research stage that is being made to combat Monkeypox. Authorities from the health sector of the countries affected have embarked on a vaccination exercise and targeting the vulnerable groups which include persons in the health care sector and individuals who had close contact with affected persons.
Public Health Measures and Preparedness
It is worthy of note that the prevention of Monkeypox depends not only on medications but also on the measures used in the sphere of public health. These measures include:
1. Quarantine and Isolation: Those that are affected are quarantined to ensure that the virus does not spread its wings.
2. Contact Tracing: Quarantining: The act of determining people who have been closely associated with individuals suffering from the virus is crucial if the occurrence of the virus is to be controlled.
3. Public Awareness Campaigns: There is the need for raising the public awareness of the Monkeypox virus signs, ways of spread, and how to prevent it.
What’s Next?
While the global community is experiencing another viral outbreak in the form of monkeypox, the role that pharmaceutical firms and governments together with the ministry of health and other organizations will define the spread of this disease. The good news is that through more research, development of vaccines and programmes established to control the spread of diseases, it is believed that the virus can be contained.
However, they are still subject to change and that’s why one needs to constantly follow the updates. National health authorities and the governmental leadership and their counterparts in other countries worldwide continue closely watching the development of the coronavirus and responding to new pieces of information.
Conclusion
As you may know, the monkeypox is the newest threat in the war against arising histological diseases. The virus jumping beyond the African region and infecting over 500000 people is a wakeup call of the reality that the world is a village and illness has the ability of going round the globe at the blink of an eye. An individual should remain constantly informed and be as cautious as possible to avert the catastrophe that is rapidly being prepared by these companies and public health authorities.
Several measures, including finding effective vaccines and treatments, will be stepped up in the coming months on a worldwide basis along with launching the preventive measures. Monkeypox response therefore will be an excellence opportunity to assess how prepared and or otherwise our global community is in preventing and controlling the spread of newly emerging zoonotic diseases in a now integrated global village.
To summarise, be alert, be safe and brace for the next phase.