In nearly 90 countries all over the world, there have been more than 31,000 documented cases of monkeypox. The outbreak was deemed a national emergency by American authorities and a global emergency by the World Health Organization last month.
Digital Desk: While the UK reports that the monkeypox outbreak across the country "shows signs of slowing," a new study may accelerate efforts to develop a specialised vaccine for the infectious virus. The study demonstrates that there is a risk that the smallpox vaccine given during the early stages of life may not provide lifetime protection from monkeypox.
As part of their study into the clinical and virological features of cases of human monkeypox that occurred in the nation from May 11 to June 29, 2022, researchers conducted a clinical assessment of 181 monkeypox patients in Spain. They discovered that 32 of them had received smallpox vaccinations earlier in life.
According to a study published in the medical journal The Lancet, "Lesion swabs showed the highest virus loads, suggesting intimate contact is probably the major transmission mechanism in the current outbreak," which is further supported by the history of sexual exposure and the distribution of lesions.
The majority of the study's participants, who tested positive for monkeypox, had received smallpox vaccinations nearly 45 years ago, so it is reasonable to assume that the efficacy may have diminished by this point and "childhood vaccinations may not protect 100% for life," according to Dr. Oriol Mitja, co-author of the study.
While the monkeypox virus is similar to the smallpox virus, the cross-protection provided by the vaccine may not be absolute, and HIV may also have played a role and caused some immunodeficiency, reducing the protection provided by the vaccine. Experts believe that this may be true in the majority of cases.
People can contract monkeypox by coming into close, direct contact with an infected person's lesions, clothing, or bed linens. Although the lesions can be incredibly painful and more severe cases can result in problems like brain inflammation and death, the majority of patients recover without the need for therapy.
In nearly 90 countries all over the world, there have been more than 31,000 documented cases of monkeypox. The outbreak was deemed a national emergency by American authorities and a global emergency by the World Health Organization last month.
98% of occurrences outside of Africa involve guys who have sex with other men. As there is only a finite number of vaccines available worldwide, officials are rushing to eradicate monkeypox before it establishes itself as a new illness.
The smallpox vaccine is effective, but there are only a few doses available worldwide. Beyond men who have sex with men, there is no evidence of ongoing monkeypox transmission outside of Africa, so halting the spread there could effectively put an end to the outbreak.
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