On August 14th, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the monkeypox outbreak constitutes a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” This is the second time WHO has issued the highest level of alert regarding the monkeypox outbreak since July 2022.
Currently, the monkeypox outbreak has spread from Africa to Europe and Asia, with confirmed cases reported in Sweden and Pakistan.
According to the latest data from the Africa CDC, this year, 12 member states of the African Union have reported a total of 18,737 monkeypox cases, including 3,101 confirmed cases, 15,636 suspected cases, and 541 deaths, with a fatality rate of 2.89%.
01 What is Monkeypox?
Monkeypox (MPX) is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It can be transmitted from animals to humans, as well as between humans. Typical symptoms include fever, rash, and lymphadenopathy.
The monkeypox virus primarily enters the human body through mucous membranes and broken skin. Sources of infection include monkeypox cases and infected rodents, monkeys, and other non-human primates. After infection, the incubation period is 5 to 21 days, typically 6 to 13 days.
Although the general population is susceptible to the monkeypox virus, there is a certain degree of cross-protection against monkeypox for those who have been vaccinated against smallpox, due to the genetic and antigenic similarities between the viruses. Currently, monkeypox primarily spreads among men who have sex with men through sexual contact, while the risk of infection for the general population remains low.
02 How is This Monkeypox Outbreak Different?
Since the beginning of the year, the main strain of the monkeypox virus, “Clade II,” has caused a large-scale outbreak worldwide. Worryingly, the proportion of cases caused by “Clade I,” which is more severe and has a higher fatality rate, is increasing and has been confirmed outside the African continent. Additionally, since September last year, a new, more lethal and easily transmissible variant, “Clade Ib,” has begun to spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A notable feature of this outbreak is that women and children under 15 years old are the most affected.
Data shows that over 70% of reported cases are in patients under 15 years old, and among the fatal cases, this figure rises to 85%. Notably, the fatality rate for children is four times higher than for adults.
03 What is the Risk of Monkeypox Transmission?
Due to the tourist season and frequent international interactions, the risk of cross-border transmission of the monkeypox virus may increase. However, the virus mainly spreads through prolonged close contact, such as sexual activity, skin contact, and close-range breathing or talking with others, so its person-to-person transmission capability is relatively weak.
04 How to Prevent Monkeypox?
Avoid sexual contact with individuals whose health status is unknown. Travelers should pay attention to monkeypox outbreaks in their destination countries and regions and avoid contact with rodents and primates.
If high-risk behavior occurs, self-monitor your health for 21 days and avoid close contact with others. If symptoms such as rash, blisters, or fever appear, seek medical attention promptly and inform the doctor of relevant behaviors.
If a family member or friend is diagnosed with monkeypox, take personal protective measures, avoid close contact with the patient, and do not touch items the patient has used, such as clothing, bedding, towels, and other personal items. Avoid sharing bathrooms, and frequently wash hands and ventilate rooms.
Monkeypox Diagnostic Reagents
Monkeypox diagnostic reagents help confirm infection by detecting viral antigens or antibodies, enabling appropriate isolation and treatment measures, and playing an important role in controlling infectious diseases. Currently, Anhui DeepBlue Medical Technology Co., Ltd. has developed the following monkeypox diagnostic reagents:
Monkeypox Antigen Test Kit: Uses colloidal gold method to collect specimens such as oropharyngeal swabs, nasopharyngeal swabs, or skin exudates for detection. It confirms infection by detecting the presence of viral antigens.
Monkeypox Antibody Test Kit: Uses colloidal gold method, with samples including venous whole blood, plasma, or serum. It confirms infection by detecting antibodies produced by the human or animal body against the monkeypox virus.
Monkeypox Virus Nucleic Acid Test Kit: Uses real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR method, with the sample being lesion exudate. It confirms infection by detecting the virus’s genome or specific gene fragments.
Prevent a New Tragedy: Prepare Now as Monkeypox Spreads
Since 2015, Testsealabs’ monkeypox diagnostic reagents have been validated using real virus samples in foreign laboratories and have been CE certified due to their stable and reliable performance. These reagents target different sample types, offering various sensitivity and specificity levels, providing strong support for monkeypox infection detection and better assisting in effective outbreak control. Fro more information about our monkeypox test kit, please review: https://www.testsealabs.com/monkeypox-virus-mpv-nucleic-acid-detection-kit-product/
Testing procedure
Using a swab to collect pus from the pustule, mixing it thoroughly in the buffer, and then applying a few drops into the test card. The result can be obtained in just a few simple steps.
Post time: Aug-29-2024