Mpox Returns In US: Two cases of mpox reported at Long Beach and Los Angeles without any previous travel history. Although health official assured spreading of monkeypox in US remain low, it is important to know about this contagious disease for awareness and prevention. Read on…
For the first time, California reports two mpox cases with no previous travel history in the United States. Health officials confirmed the first case earlier this week at the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services after running a lab test. Whereas the second case was confirmed in Los Angeles, where county officials reported a patient with flu-like symptoms.
Mpox Cases Detected In Long Beach And LA
Talking about the newly detected mpox case, Rex Richardson, Mayor, Long Beach, told the media, “We are taking this very seriously and ensuring our community and health care partners remain vigilant so we can prevent any more cases. This underscores the importance of continued surveillance, early response and vaccination.” Although the health official denies giving any further details of the two mpox patients, it assures that the risk of spreading remains low.
What Is Mpox?
Mpox is a viral disease that is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). A person contracting this virus may experience painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain and low energy, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The global health organization states, “MPXV is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family, which includes variola, cowpox, vaccinia and other viruses.”
Types Of Mpox
This contagious disease has two distinct clades of the virus: Clade 1 and Clade 2. According to healthcare providers, the clade 1 strain is more severe when compared to the clade 2 strain. The earlier strain is endemic in Central Africa, whereas clade 2 is endemic in East Africa.
Symptoms of Mpox
Signs and symptoms of mpox typically appear within the first week of exposure to the virus but some may show symptoms between 1-21 days. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the symptoms generally stay 2 to 4 weeks but it states that this can depend totally on the immune system of the infected individual. Here are some of the warning signs of mpox disease:
- Painful rash
- High fever
- Sore throat
- Persistent headache
- Muscle aches
- Back pain
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes
The global health organization claims that some people may have a few skin lesions which may typically occur in the palms, face, mouth, throat, groin, genital area, and anus.
Treatment For Mpox
The National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends that the best way to manage mpox disease is by getting vaccine. The US health agency states that several antiviral medications approved for treating smallpox may help people suffering from mpox. The NIH states, “evidence is building on the role of supportive management to alleviate the symptoms and complications of mpox.”
According to WHO, some other ways you can manage to prevent yourself from contracting mpox disease are by maintaining good hygiene, disinfecting surfaces and objects that are being contaminated, wearing a face mask in public places and keeping social distance especially at the peak of the outbreak. Lastly, stay informed about the mpox disease in your locality.
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