Monkeypox

Context: 

Over a month ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Mpox, the global health emergency over. 

About Monkeypox:

• Monkeypox is a viral disease that primarily spread to the human population through zoonotic spillovers.
• Potential reservoirs: Rodents and primates 
• Common symptoms: skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
• Transmission between humans: 
  • Through close contact including sexual contact
  • Exposure to infected bodily fluids or lesions 

• According to WHO, over 87,000 cases of Mpox have been reported to date since January 2022.
• In recent weeks, overall global cases of Mpox have been decreasing, but some regions like Southeast Asia and Western Pacific region are seeing an increase in reported cases.
• Name change: 
  1. Monkeypox will now be known as mpox, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced, after complaints over racist and stigmatising language linked to the virus’s name.
  2. The old term will be used alongside the new one for a year, before being phased out.

News Source: The Hindu

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